UNAIR NEWS – Ensuring the health of pregnant women and providing education from pregnancy to breastfeeding is important to minimize maternal and child mortality. In this regard, Airlangga Movement for Healthy Mothers and Children (Geliat) organized the dissemination of assistance for pregnant women. The dissemination was carried out online through the Zoom application by involving representatives of the Health Office from Jember, Bojonegoro, and Surabaya Regencies.
The event on Thursday, October 14, 2021, was opened directly by Wahyu Anis, a representative of the Airlangga Geliat team. In the remarks, Wahyu said that the activity was one of the efforts to achieve the welfare of children and pregnant women to get their rights.
“All pregnant women have the right to give birth to their children safely. So, we must contribute together so that there are no more mothers who give birth to their children and sacrifice their lives,” said Anis.
As one of the speakers, Udayani explained the service standards and needs of pregnant women in accordance with the Maternal and Child Health (KIA) booklet. According to her, the mortality rate in pregnant women can be reduced if the standard of service provided by health care workers is of high quality and optimal. In addition, she also said that pregnant women must perform antenatal care (ANC) with a minimum frequency of eight visits to professionals.
“This examination is very important to minimize the risk and improve the health of pregnant women optimally so that later they are able to face the period of childbirth, postpartum, breastfeeding, until the return of reproductive health,” she explained.
Furthermore, Udayani divided the number of ANC visits into three stages. The first stage is when the womb is 8 to 12 weeks or the first trimester. Examination in the first trimester is important to screen for health problems and prevent the risk of preeclampsia. Next is an examination in the second trimester that can be done at the age of 20 and 26 weeks of pregnancy to detect early maternal health problems and abnormalities in the baby.
“The last one is an examination in the third trimester and can be done when the womb reaches the age of 30, 34, 36, 38, and 40 weeks to plan the delivery action,” she explained.
Antenatal Care
In addition to conducting examinations, Udayani also said that ANC has several other activities that pregnant women need to participate in. There are classes for pregnant women that share about the period of pregnancy to breastfeeding, nutrition consultations to meet macro and micronutrient needs during pregnancy, lactation and postpartum consultations. Also, counseling about the dangers of smoking and illegal drugs, providing education on planning childbirth and breastfeeding, and preventing complications.
“Regarding this activity, I suggest that not only pregnant women but also fathers as husbands need to be involved. Moreover, the decision-maker during childbirth will be the husband, so he must understand the whole process very well,” she concluded.
Author: Nikmatus Sholikhah
Editor: Feri Fenoria
