Pregnancy
and
Childbirth
67
Every pregnant woman needs good health, good food, and the
love and support of her family and community. Many women
feel very healthy during pregnancy and do not have difficult
births. Most babies are born healthy.
At the same time, pregnancy can be one of the main dangers
a woman faces in her life. About half a million women die each
year from problems of pregnancy and birth (this is also called
maternal mortality), mostly in poorer countries.
Most of these deaths could be prevented with basic care.
This chapter has information that can help pregnant women
care for themselves, or help others care for them.
How to tell if you are pregnant
• You miss your monthly bleeding.
• Your breasts feel sore and grow bigger.
• You feel sick to your stomach and sometimes vomit.
• You have to pass urine more often.
• You feel tired.
How to know when the baby is due
Add 9 months plus 7 days to the date when your
last normal monthly bleeding began. Your baby will
probably be born any time in the 2 weeks before
or after this date.
Without water, the
crops would die; and
without children, life
in the community
could not continue.
—Mixtec saying,
Mexico
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❍❍❍❍❍
Many women know
when their baby will
be born by counting
the passing of
10 moons.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012