Lesson 7.4 - Medical care during pregnancy

Learning objectives:

Identify medical needs during pregnancy including when emergency medical care is required.

Keywords:

• Blood pressure – the pressure of blood through the circulatory system

• Contractions – a movement of muscles in the womb when a woman is giving birth to a child

• Immediate – happening now

• Labour – the process of childbirth

• During pregnancy, there are lots of reasons why a woman might need medical care.

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• If she knows what to expect during her pregnancy, she might be able to identify when she needs medical attention.

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• ​If a woman believes that she needs medical attention, it is important to assist her to get the help she needs.

Medical needs during pregnancy

Medical needs during pregnancy

​1. Ultrasound scans:

• ​An ultrasound scans will let the doctor know if the foetus is growing and developing in a healthy rate.

• The scan will record the heart rate and breathing.

Medical needs during pregnancy

1. Hypertension:

• ​An ultrasound scans will let the doctor know if the foetus is growing and developing in a healthy rate.

• The scan will record the heart rate and breathing.

Medical needs during pregnancy

​2. Hypertension:

• Women can experience hypertension (high blood pressure) during pregnancy.

• High blood pressure during pregnancy should be monitored by a healthcare professional.

Medical needs during pregnancy

​3. Gestational diabetes:

• Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that sometimes develops during pregnancy.

• Gestational diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin to meet the extra demands during pregnancy. This leads to glucose in the blood being too high.

• It is not a long-term condition, and it generally goes away after delivery of the baby.​

Medical needs during pregnancy

​4. Other symptoms:

If a woman experiences these other symptoms during pregnancy, she can see her doctor but does not need emergency medical care:

• Back pain

• Low iron levels in the blood (anaemia)

• Constipation

• Fatigue (tiredness)

• Heartburn

• Morning sickness

• Swelling of the legs (oedema)

Medical needs during pregnancy

When to get an emergency medical care:

If a pregnant woman experiences any of the following, she should get immediate medical attention.

• No movement from the foetus

• Excessive fatigue

• Excessive thirst

• Feeling of anxiety

• Heavy bleeding

• More than three contractions per hour

• Sudden loss of fluid

• Unexplained pains

​The process of childbirth

Labour

Labour or childbirth, is the process of the baby leaving the womb.

Sign of labour include:

• Low back pain

• Pain around the stomach

• The release of amniotic fluid known as the

  "water breaking"

• Contractions​

If a women thinks she is in labour, she should get medical attention.

​The process of childbirth

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Labour

Stage 1​

• During the first stage of labour, the women will feel contractions, which are the muscles in the womb tightening and relaxing.These can be identified by a "dull pain".

• During early labo​ur, women can time their contractions. They will be around five minutes apart.

Labour

Stage 2

• During this stage, the women will feel the urge to push.

• Contractions becomes stronger and last longer.

• The a​abdominal muscles help with the delivery of the baby during this stage.

• The second stage of labour lasts 1 - 2 hours.​

Labour

Stage 3

• After the birth of the baby, the umbilical cord is clamped (cut the umbilical cord)

• The placenta is delivered 5 - 20 minutes after the delivery of the baby.

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