Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Words to midwives. ...................................................................................... 1
Learning is lifelong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Work to improve women’s health . . . . . 8
Share what you know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Work for the joy of it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Respectful and compassionate care . . . . . 6
Chapter 2: Treating health problems..........................................................................12
Finding the causes of health
Finding root causes of
problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
health problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Finding the best treatment . . . . . . . . . . 16 Midwives can make change . . . . . . . . . . 25
Chapter 3: A woman’s body in pregnancy.................................................................26
A woman’s sexual and
How women become pregnant . . . . . . 29
reproductive parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Chapter 4: Helping women stay healthy....................................................................32
Eating well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Caring for the body for good health . . 42
Things to avoid during
pregnancy and breastfeeding . . . . . . . 45
Chapter 5: Preventing infection...................................................................................48
Preventing infection saves lives . . . . . . 49 Clean the space and bedding . . . . . . . . 57
Prevent infection by keeping
germs away . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Clean your hands and wear
protective clothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Clean and sterilize tools . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Get rid of wastes safely . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
PREGNANCY
Introduction......................................................................................................................70
Chapter 6: Common changes in pregnancy...............................................................72
Changes in eating and sleeping . . . . . . 73 Changing feelings and emotions . . . . . 82
Body changes and discomforts . . . . . . . 76
Chapter 7: Learning a pregnant woman’s health history. ......................................84
Questions in a pregnancy
health history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Does she have signs of pregnancy? . . . 86
How pregnant is she now?
When is the baby due? . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Has she had any problems with past
pregnancies or births? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Malaria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
HIV and AIDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
What else in her life might affect
her pregnancy and birth? . . . . . . . . . 104
Making a transport plan . . . . . . . . . . . 106
A Book for Midwives (2010)