Chapter 8
Prenatal checkups
In this chapter:
Talk with the mother.................................................................................................... 109
Observe her general health . . . . . . . . . 110
Ask if she has any nausea
or vomiting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Ask if she feels weak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Ask if she has any bleeding from
the vagina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Ask if she has any unusual pain
in the belly, back, or legs . . . . . . . . . 113
Ask if she has shortness of breath . . . . 114
Check for signs of diabetes . . . . . . . . . 115
Check the mother’s body............................................................................................ 116
Check for signs of anemia . . . . . . . . . 116 Check the mother’s blood pressure . . 122
Check for signs of poor nutrition
Check for signs of pre-eclampsia
or lack of iodine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
(toxemia of pregnancy) . . . . . . . . . . 125
Weigh the mother . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Check the mother’s temperature . . . . . 119
Check for signs of bladder or
kidney infection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Check the mother’s pulse . . . . . . . . . . 120
Check the baby.............................................................................................................. 130
Measure the mother’s womb . . . . . . . . 130 Find the position of the baby . . . . . . . 135
After the checkup.......................................................................................................... 144
Make a time for the next
prenatal visit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Record of prenatal care ............................................................................................... 145
108