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Introduction

This document discusses danger signs in pregnancy and the midwifery management process. Some common danger signs that can occur before 37 weeks of pregnancy include vaginal bleeding, headaches, abdominal pain, swelling, and decreased fetal movement. These signs may indicate issues like ectopic pregnancy, infection, or placenta problems. The midwifery management process involves assessing the client, making a diagnosis, planning care, implementing interventions, and evaluating the effectiveness of the care provided. Recognizing danger signs early allows for timely medical care to reduce risks to both mother and baby.

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25 views

Introduction

This document discusses danger signs in pregnancy and the midwifery management process. Some common danger signs that can occur before 37 weeks of pregnancy include vaginal bleeding, headaches, abdominal pain, swelling, and decreased fetal movement. These signs may indicate issues like ectopic pregnancy, infection, or placenta problems. The midwifery management process involves assessing the client, making a diagnosis, planning care, implementing interventions, and evaluating the effectiveness of the care provided. Recognizing danger signs early allows for timely medical care to reduce risks to both mother and baby.

Uploaded by

chindobr8
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Danger Signs in Pregnancy

Introduction

Most women go through pregnancy, labor and delivery without any


complication. However, a significant number will have complications or
unpleasant experiences ranging from mild to severe and even leading
to maternal and foetal mortality. These complications usually give
warning signs or danger signs before they go out of hands. These
danger sign are unusual symptoms that occur during pregnancy before
the 37th week of pregnancy. Expectant mothers and their families
should be aware of these signs and pay attention to them in order to
prevent further complications. Evidence suggests that raising women’s
awareness of the danger signs during pregnancy would improve the
early detection of problems and reduce the delay in deciding to seek
obstetric care. Since danger signs in pregnancy cannot be anticipated,
all pregnant women need adequate information about the symptoms
and actions required if those warning signs should arise during
pregnancy. Some of these signs include: vagina bleeding,
convulsions/loss of consciousness, severe headache with blurred vision,
fever and chills, severe abdominal pain and vomiting, swelling of legs,
hands and face, watery vagina discharge, absence/reduced fetal
movement and fast/difficult breathing.

A number of different problems may cause these danger signs. Some of


the more common problems are described below.

1. Tubal pregnancy: pain or pressure in the lower belly during the


first 3 months of pregnancy could mean that the fertilized egg is
outside your uterus. This is called tubal or ectopic pregnancy. The
pain may be worse on one side of the mother’s belly or she may
feel pain in your shoulder. The mother may also feel dizzy or faint,
or have nausea or vomiting. A baby cannot survive in an ectopic
pregnancy the space for the continuous growth of the baby is
insufficient and also because it can cause severe internal bleeding
and threaten the life of the mother, so it must be ended. If it is
diagnosed very early in pregnancy, the pregnancy may be ended
with medicine. Otherwise, surgery must be done to remove the
pregnancy.
2. Infection: a temperature that is over 37.8oC could be a sign of
infection or illness. A high temperature or infection can lead to
preterm labor. The infection may be treated with antibiotics or
other medicines.
3. Problems with the baby: babies start to move early in pregnancy.
Most women start to feel the movements at about 20 weeks or
halfway through the pregnancy. Each baby has its own pattern of
movement so it god to be aware of pattern of movement of your
baby. Mothers should follow their healthcare provider’s
instructions for keeping track of their baby’s movement and know
when to tell their healthcare provider about possible problems.
4. Problems with the placenta: the placenta is the tissue inside the
uterus that is attached to the baby by the umbilical cord. It carries
oxygen and food from the mother’s blood to the baby’s blood.
Vagina bleeding during the second half of the pregnancy with or
without pain may be a sign of problems with the placenta. For
example, the placenta may cover the cervix or it may separate
from the wall of the uterus. Vagina bleeding from a problem with
the placenta may be treated with bed rest at home or in the
hospital. In severe cases, the baby may be delivered right away.

The midwifery management process

The midwifery management process is a systemic approach of problem-


solving which is based on scientific principles and uses critical thinking
to enable a professional midwife to assist clients and their families to
cope with health problems. The steps of the midwifery management
process include:

Assessment

This is the first step of the midwifery management process. It consists


of systematic and orderly collection and analysis of data pertaining to
the health status of the client for the purpose of identifying needs,
problems or making a midwifery diagnosis. It is an important part of the
process because if an incorrect assessment is made, a wrong diagnosis
will follow which could mean inappropriate planning and
implementation of improper care. Subjective and objective data are
collected during assessment.

Midwifery diagnosis

It involves analysis of collected data to come up with actual and


potencial problems. It expresses the midwife’s professional and clinical
judgement about individual family and community responses to act. It
forms the basis of selection of midwifery intervention to achieve
outcomes for which the midwife is accountable.

Planning:
This involves developing a midwifery care plan which is a written
document that will guide the midwife to provide quality care following
diagnosis. The midwife should provide exact intervention required to
achieve both short and long term goals. The midwife should have a
justification for each intervention carried out.

Implementation

Putting into action or carrying out the interventions selected in the


midwifery care plan. The planned activities can be done by the midwife
directly, by the client and her family or the physician.

Evaluation

Involves examining the impact or effectiveness of the interventions


carried out after each patient interaction documented in evaluation
column.

References

1. Hibstu DT, Siyoum YD. Knowledge of obstetric danger signs and


associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal
care at health facilities of Yirgacheffe town, Gedeo zone, Southern
Ethiopia. Arch Public Health. (2017) 75:35. dio:
2. Tilahun T, Sinaga M. Knowledge of obstetric danger signs and
birth preparedness practices among pregnant women in rural
communities of eastern Ethiopia. Inter J Nur Midwifery. (2016)
8(1):1-11. doi:
3. http://hhma.org/healthadvisor/aha-dangpreg-wha. Tufts Medical
Center Community Care 2022
4. https://www.scribd.com/presentation/162148995/The-
Midwifery-Management-Process by S.R. Muheriwa 23/2/2011

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