Check the baby
If the baby has died, it is important for the mother to give birth soon.
She can give birth at home, but she may bleed more than other mothers,
and is at more risk for infection. If labor does not start in 2 weeks, go to a
medical center where she can get medicine to
start her labor.
Note: When a mother loses a baby, she
needs love, care, and understanding.
Make sure she does not go through
labor alone. If she gives birth in the
hospital, someone should stay there
with her during the birth.
Find the position of the baby
Healthy signs
• There is only 1 baby in the womb.
• The baby is head down at the time of birth.
Wa r nin g s ig n s
• The baby is breech (feet or bottom down) at the time of birth.
• The baby is sideways at the time of birth.
• The mother has twins.
There are 2 methods for finding the baby’s position: feeling the mother’s belly,
and listening to where the baby’s heartbeat is strongest. You may need both to
be sure of the position of the baby.
Feeling the mother’s belly
It may be difficult to find the position of the baby before the 6th or 7th month.
Try anyway. What you feel may not make sense now but may make sense the
next time you feel for the baby. It will be easier to find the position during the
last 2 months of pregnancy. The more you practice feeling the position of a baby,
the better you will be at it.
To begin, help the mother lie
on her back and give her support
under her knees and head.
Make sure she is comfortable.
Then feel the mother’s belly. You will be checking for 3 things:
• Is the baby vertical (up and down)?
• Is the baby facing front or back?
• Is the baby head down or bottom down?
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A Book for Midwives (2010)