Pre-natal and post-natal care of pregnancy

Pregnancy care is very important for a healthy pregnancy and a safe delivery. There are two stages of pregnancy care called the prenatal stage (during pregnancy) and the post-natal stage (after pregnancy)

LET’S TALK ABOUT PRE-NATAL CARE!

Pre-natal care is important for both the mother and the baby. When you find out you are pregnant, you should visit your local clinic.

It’s important that you attend your prenatal visits at the local public clinic or at a private clinic every month. This is to make sure that both you and the baby are healthy.
Eat healthy! Eating a balanced diet, eating food form the five food groups
Remember to take the vitamins that your healthcare provider gives you.
Keep active, regular exercising such as taking daily walks or even doing light exercises at the gym or park. You should always consult your healthcare provider before you join any exercise program.
If you are a first-time parent, you should research and learn about the different stages of pregnancy, childcare, and pregnancy care. You can find a guide by Johnson & Johnson (Pty) Ltd
You will need to make lifestyle changes such as avoiding stress, eating healthy, quitting smoking, not drinking alcohol, and not using drugs.

You can also check out this guide by UNICEF on what to eat when you are Pregnant

LET’S TALK ABOUT PRE-NATAL CARE!

Post-natal care is care that the mother and the baby receive after delivery. It’s important for new mothers to get medical care and support if they experience any concerns or issues after delivery.

Things to remember:

You will need to watch your baby after delivery, this means that your baby is drinking milk, pooping and breathing normally.
Breastfeeding may be new to you if you are a first-time mother. Speak to the nurse and they will teach you how to breastfeed and they will support you in this process.
You may experience some pain in your stomach and vaginal area after delivery. Only take medication that was provided by your healthcare provider.
If you experience a big change in your moods such as anger, moodiness and fatigue you may want to speak to your healthcare provider about that and they will refer you to a counselor to help you through that process.
Your healthcare provider will also discuss the different types of contraception with you. It will be a good idea to start contraception straight after childbirth, to make sure that you lower the risk of pregnancy again.
Remember to attend your post-natal check-ups to make sure you and the baby are doing well.

MomConnect is a great way to get advice on your phone immediately if you have concerns about your health after childcare and if you have concerns about your baby

How to join:

Ask someone at a public health care facility to confirm that you are pregnant.
Dial *134*550# from your cellphone to register.
Answer a few simple questions about your pregnancy.
You will then be registered – welcome to the family!