Journal of Nurse Midwifery and Maternal Health

  Preconception health care is an essential part of preventive care and nutritional status of the mother is an important determinant of embryonic and fetal growth and development. A healthy diet optimizes maternal health and reduces the risk of medical problems. Consuming a well-balanced and healthy diet including fruits and vegetables, iron and calcium-rich foods, protein-containing foods as well as 400 g of folic acid daily helps to have a healthy baby. 

Keywords: Preconception; Maternal Health; Folic Acid.

  Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is known as a branch of different health care products, practices and systems thatare not commonly included in traditional medicine. The term Alternative therapy is usedas a substitution of conventional treatments whereas Complementary therapy used in addition with conventional treatments.Traditional medicine, alternative medicine, complementary medicine all are proven to be used safely in perinatal period. Homeopathic remedies are found to have no side effects but they are not prescribed commonly for alleviating an ailment quickly so they are better to take in later month of pregnancy. Natural remedies like garlic, Gingko Biloba leaf, cranberry etc. they are helpful in reducing stress, diabetes, and some other problems in antenatal period. Manipulative therapies e.g., massaging, osteopathy all these have the benefits like reducing pain and enhancing the sense of wellbeing. Yoga, hypnosis, music therapy, acupressure etc. are the most accepted forms of complementary and alternative medicine called as mind and body medicine. Besides increasing the comfort level some of these medicines also help in reducing nausea, vomiting, improving bowel movement etc. Reiki therapy, sterile water injection, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation though they are not quite common in the practice of midwifery but are beneficial for pregnant mother. 

Keywords: Homeopathy; Yoga; Aromatherapy; Reflexology; Acupuncture & Acupressure; Meditation; Hypnosis; Music Therapy; Massage Therapy; Sophrology; Water Birth; Religiosity.

  Background: Anaemia during pregnancy is a major public health problem and also one of the leading causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Antenatal care is important to identify women at risk of developing pregnancy complications. In Indian scenario male are considered as primary decision makers and financier for women’s health. It’s necessary that husbands, who takes all major decision about his wife, must well aware of anemia and its complication occur during pregnancy. The main objective of the study was to assess the awareness level of husbands regarding anaemia and its complications during pregnancy and the necessary supportive measures taken by them for prevention of anaemia during pregnancy. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to assess the awareness level of husbands regarding signs and symptoms of anemia, its complications and prevention of anemia among 78 participants by administering structured knowledge questionnaire and a structure checklist was used to find out supportive measures taken by husband for prevention of anemia. Result: Study found that 60% husbands had good knowledge, 36% had average knowledge and only 4% had poor knowledge about anemia and its complications during pregnancy. Maximum participants (84.62%) reported that they had taken good supportive measures for their wives throughout pregnancy for prevention of anemia. Conclusion: Husbands’ accompanying their pregnant wives during antenatal check-ups help in utilizing antenatal services and able to find out about common problems develops during pregnancy i.e anaemia and can take measures for its prevention and treatment. 

Keyword: Anaemia; Knowledge; Supportive Measures; Husbands of Antenatal Mother

  Introduction: Breastfeeding self-efficacy is a potentially modifiable variable that predict the longer duration and increased exclusivity of breastfeeding. It is defined as a mother’s confidence in her ability to breastfeed her child. So improving mother’s confidence of breastfeeding by antenatal preparation can improve mothers breastfeeding confidence and thereby breastfeeding outcomes.The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of breastfeeding self-efficacy programme on breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding practice among prim gravida mothers. Material & Methods: An experimental approach with pre-test post-test control group design was used for the study. The studywas conducted among a consecutive sample of 60 primigravid mothers (first 30 in control group and next 30 in experimental group) attending Kamla Nehru Hospital, Shimla, (H.P). The mothers were recruited for the study on completion of 37 weeks of gestation. After collecting background information, pre-test breastfeeding self-efficacy was measured using Breastfeeding self-efficacy scale and then breastfeeding self-efficacy programme was delivered to the mothers in the experimental group. The post-test breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding practice was measured three days postpartum. Briston Breastfeeding Assessment tool was used to measure breastfeeding practice. Result: The breastfeeding self-efficacy measured before the intervention shows that 7% of mothers had low self-efficacy and 93% had medium self-efficacy (n=60) and the mean self-efficacy score was 24.8±4.8 (max score - 70). There was no significant difference in breastfeeding self-efficacy between experimental (24.53±4.6)and control group (25.06± 4.7) in the pre-test (0.677). In the post-test, the breastfeeding self-efficacy of the experimental group (63.96±2.5) was significantly higher than the control group (43.90±5.0) at p <0.001. The breastfeeding practice (max score- 8) measured on the third day postpartum was also significantly higher in experimental group (6.66±.80) than the control group (2.23±.97) at p<0.001. A positive correlation was observed between breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding practice (r=0.8, p<0.001). Conclusion: The results of the study suggested that breastfeeding self-efficacy can be improved through proper education and support during antenatal period. Improving breastfeeding self-efficacy helps to improve breastfeeding practice and thereby breastfeeding outcomes. 

Keywords: Breast Feeding; Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy;Breastfeeding Programme; Breastfeeding Practice.