Prenatal+Nursing

​ Prenatal Nursing



=What is Prenatal Nursing? = = = Prenatal nursing is a specific type of medical care that is recommended for pregnant mothers to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Reason being, it helps identify potential problems that may occur during and after a mother’s pregnancy (Canadian Nurses Association [CNA], 2005b). As a result, the mother can ensure a healthier lifestyle for herself and unborn infant throughout her pregnancy (CNA, 2005b). Therefore, prenatal nursing is an amazing support for pregnant mothers; thus infants. However, the essence of prenatal nursing goes beyond this brief introduction. So please read on for a more in depth view of prenatal nursing. 

Preparation during pregnancy. Link : http://www.medcost.com/prenatal/beforepregnancyo.htm 

=Uniqueness of a Prenatal Nurse =  Prenatal nurses, also known as primary caregivers, work closely with women and their families before, during, and after their pregnancy. This specialty of nursing is unique because it provides women with a more personal form of caring than they would receive at a clinic (CNA, 2005a, p. 5). Further, this type of personal care is offered through hospital, community and or home visits. (CNA, 2005a, p. 5) As mentioned, prenatal nurses provide care in the hospital and at the home. However, prenatal nursing is also a helpful parenting resource for various other reasons. For example, prenatal nurses help mothers by offering breast feeding programs (CNA, 2005a, p. 5). Second, they work in local schools to provide care for young children (CNA, 2005a, p. 5). Third, they teach parents effective parenting skills (CNAa, 2005, p. 5). Finally, they help clients find community resources that meet their culture needs (CNA, 2005a, p. 5). ​ Prenatal nurses need to have good communication skills. Reason being, they advocate for early childhood development and work one on one with families in the community (CNA, 2005a, p. 4). In addition, they need to communicate information to their patients so that informed choices can be made (CNA, 2005a, p. 4). Finally, emotional and physical support is important in the prenatal nurse-patient relationship. Therefore, prenatal nurses need to know how to read their patients verbal and non verbal cues. In doing so, they can provide proper care. (Association of Ontario midwives, n.d. b)
 * The Unique Essence of Prenatal Nursing **
 * Additional Unique Roles**
 * Communication: A Unique Prenatal Nursing Skills **

=Goals & Outcomes <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> = <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> The goal of prenatal nursing is to prevent or reduce the chance of a troubled maternal life course (Kitzman et al., 1997, p. 646). To accomplish this goal, prenatal nurses educate and support mothers and fathers during and after the course of their pregnancy. As a result, parents avoid pregnancy related stress and health issues (Kitzman et al., 1997, p. 646). Moreover, they feel a sense of empowered to begin parenthood on the right track. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Kitzman et al., 1997, p. 644) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">(CNA, 2005b)
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Goals & Outcomes During Pregnancy **
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prevent pregnancy-induced hypertension <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.4pt;">
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prevent premature birth <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.4pt;">
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prevent low birth rate
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Support for low-income and first t <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">ime mothers
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prevent or reduce pregnancy related stress
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Educating the mother/parent(s) about pregnancy related matters
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.4pt;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Regarding proper pregnancy nutrition <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.4pt;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Regarding maternal health related behaviours during pregnancy (i.e. not smoking, drinking alcohol, or being subjected to violence) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.4pt;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Regarding infant/child abuse and neglect
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Conduct exams
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Conduct home visits to:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Observe the mothers environment and lifestyle
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ensure suitable conditions for development of the baby while in the womb

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Goals & Outcomes After Pregnancy ** media type="youtube" key="XdiatdGFJYs" width="318" height="273" align="right" <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Kitzman et al., 1997, p. 644) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.4pt;">
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prevent injury to infant/child
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #05f0ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prevent ingestion <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maintain up-to-date immunization records
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Assist with behavioural problems
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Assist mother with potential mental health issues (i.e. postpartum depression)
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Assist mother with infant or child related developmental or mental health issues
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prevention of undesired subsequent pregnancy
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Provide ingoing support and care for parent(s) following the birth
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prevent or reduce post-pregnancy related stress (i.e. financial, breastfeeding, and sleep related stress)

=<span style="color: #05f0ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Who May Benefit from Prenatal Nursing = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Prenatal nursing is beneficial resource to all parents; even the experts. However, it is especially beneficial to those in the following scenarios. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Reason being, they have an increased risk of experiencing stress due to additional life stressors (Kitzman et al., 1997, p. 646).

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Kitzman et al., 1997, p. 644) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.4pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Canadian nurses association, 2005, p. 5) ​
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Single mothers
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">First-time mothers/parents
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Low-income mothers/parents
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Adolescent mothers/parents
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sick mothers/parents (i.e. illness, disease, mental health issues, or addictions)
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Parents with special needs children
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Parents with over or under weight infants or children who are over/under weight

= = =<span style="color: #05f0ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">Community Resources = =<span style="color: #05f0ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt;"> = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">** Durham Region Events and Seminars ** The [|Durham Region] This website is a great resource to look up local information regarding community events and seminars.

<span style="color: #8f8ff5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16pt;">Rose of Durham ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Mission Statement** "To work with young parents in Durham Region by providing supportive programming so they may build a better future for themselves and for their children" (Rose of Durham, 2009).
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">

[|Prenatal Classes] [|School Program] Provides a supportive and accepting environment for young mothers that are still partaking in a high school education (Rose of Durham, 2009). [|Importance of DADs Program] This program is unique just for Dad's because it promotes healthy relationships and parenting skills for new fathers ( Rose of Durham, 2009).
 * Programs Offered**

<span style="color: #8f8ff5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">SickKids Hospital offers in depth information about prenatal care. In particular, the MOTHERISK program provides information about pre pregnancy vitamins, nutritional guidelines, and up to date information about the latest research in prenatal care.
 * <span style="color: #8f8ff5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16pt;">SickKids Hospital **<span style="color: #8f8ff5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt;">

[|Morning Sickness] [|Breastfeeding and Drugs] [|Folic Acid] [|Cancer in Pregnancy] [|Conditions in Pregnancy] [|Alcohol, Nicotine, and Substance Use] (SickKids, 2009)
 * Information & Resources Offered**

Motherisk also offers a wealth on information from external sources that can help expecting Mothers (SickKids, 2009).
 * Additional Information**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">(SickKids, 2009)
 * Outside Sources Include**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pregnancy, Nutrition and Exercise
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">General Pregnancy and Parenting
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">National Centers and Associations

Click [|here] for more information

<span style="color: #05f0ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="color: #05f0ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="color: #05f0ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">References <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> =<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Association of ontario midwives. (n.d. a). Association of ontario midwives- frequently asked questions. Retrieved from http://www.aom.on.ca/About/What_is_a_Midwife.aspx

Association of ontario midwives. (n.d.b). Association of ontario midwives- frequently asked questions. Retrieved from http://www.aom.on.ca/About/FAQ.aspx

Canadian nurses association. (2005a). Children's health and nursing: a summary of the issues. Canadian Nurses Association, Retrieved from http://www.cna-aiic.ca/CNA/documents/pdf/publications/BG2_Childrens_Health_and_Nursing_e.pdf <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Canadian nurses association. (2005b).Exploring new roles for advance nursing practice. Canadian Nurses Association, Retrieved from http://www.cna-aiic.ca/CNA/documents/pdf/publications/Exploring_New_Roles_ANP-05_e.pdf <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Kitzman, H., Olds, D., Henderson, C., Hanks, C., Cole, R., Tatelbaum, R.,…Barnard, K. (1997). Effects of prenatal and infancy home visitation by nurses on pregnancy outcomes, childhood injuries, and repeat childbearing. //The Journal of American Medical Association, 278//(8), 644-653. Retrieved from []

Rose of Durham. (2009, December). //Welcome to the rose of durham//. Retrieved from http://www.roseofdurham.com/core_pages/index.php

The Hospital for Sick Children,. (n.d.). //Mothrisk program//. Retrieved from http://www.motherisk.org/women/index.jsp

Picture 1. Retrieved from []

Picture 2. Retrieved from []

Picture 3. Retrieved from []