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Health district urges expecting mothers to practice antenatal care

It says that antenatal care should start as soon as a pregnancy is diagnosed.

The Tshwane Health District Services (THDS) is urging pregnant women to utilise their antenatal care services this Women’s Month.

Antenatal care involves screening and testing for iron deficiency, infections, diabetes and hypertension, and preventing the transmission of HIV from mother to child.

THDS said antenatal care should start as soon as a pregnancy is diagnosed.

“Women must visit their nearest healthcare facilities immediately when they miss their periods,” Maternal Child and Women’s Health (MCWH) co-ordinator, Phumzile Mathibela said.

“Self-care and prenatal classes are very important during pregnancy as we can monitor and safeguard against any danger or complication that may arise between the mother and the baby. During every visit, a qualified healthcare professional assesses the mother and the baby’s health, allowing for pregnancy-related complications to be detected and treated early,” Mathibela said.

She also further emphasised that during pregnancy various tests need to be conducted.
According to the MCWH, during these appointments, a midwife will take a comprehensive history of the mother. This includes the mother’s mental health, previous pregnancies (if she is not a first-time mom), lifestyle, family, and medical well-being. Most importantly she will give the mother tips on how to have a healthy pregnancy.

A midwife is a healthcare provider who is trained to provide obstetric and gynaecological services, including primary care, prenatal and obstetric care, and routine gynaecological care like annual exams and contraception.

“The purpose of these tests is to help make the pregnancy safer, to check and assess the development and well-being of the mother and the baby and to exclude and manage existing medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and anaemia which can be aggravated by pregnancy,” Mathibela said.

“Every pregnancy brings its own set of challenges for both the mother and the father. Our healthcare professionals are available to give you detailed information and safer options that you might require and offer counseling if necessary. We give mothers the necessary support to cope and deal with body changes they may experience during pregnancy,” she said.

Mathibela also had some advice for first-time mothers: “Finding out you are pregnant can be frightening for first-time mothers. You experience a range of emotions but this is a crucial time to promote good health behaviours, avoid alcohol during pregnancy, eat healthy to ensure that the baby is getting all the nutrients needed for proper growth and development,” Mathibela.

On August 21, 2023, ASEZ (Save the Earth from A to Z) – a university student volunteer group affiliated with the World Mission Society Church of God – signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] implementation campaigns with Tshwane at the municipal council.

The SDGs related to maternal health include:

– reduce maternal mortality;

– prevent deaths of newborns and children under five years of age;

– reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by one-third

– ensure universal access to reproductive healthcare services.

Expecting mothers are urged to make use of the metro’s package of comprehensive primary healthcare services targeting, among others, women and child health at all the primary healthcare clinics it manages.

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