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During pregnancy, a qualified midwife will:
- Ask the client about her health history, family health history
and any previous pregnancies, and discuss whether any special
care is needed during this pregnancy.
- Review the client's prenatal records,
which commonly include routine prenatal lab work (blood type & Rh
factor, hemoglobin/hematocrit, rubella status and infectious
disease screening), pelvic exam, vaginal cultures, and urinalysis,
and determine with the client whether any special care is
needed based on these records.
- Discuss the client's wishes for her care and provide individualized
care according to the client's needs and desires.
- Provide education on nutrition, fetal development, exercise
and healthy lifestyle choices.
- Provide a regular schedule of prenatal visits, which includes
monitoring blood pressure, urinalysis, and growth and position
of baby, to ensure that the pregnancy is healthy and normal.
- Provide information about additional testing
available during pregnancy, such as quadruple screen, ultrasound
scan, glucose tolerance testing & group B streptococcus
cultures, and assist the client in obtaining these tests
if needed or desired.
- Refer the client for medical care if signs of complications
develop.
During labor and birth, a qualified midwife will:
- Monitor the health of mother and baby during labor.
- Monitor and facilitate labor progress.
- Refer for medical care if signs of a complication develop
and remain with the client for support.
- Provide stabilizing care including neonatal resuscitation
if necessary in an emergency while awaiting medical care.
After the birth, a qualified midwife will:
- Monitor the mother's recovery during the first six weeks
after birth.
- Monitor the baby's growth and development until well-baby
care has been established or until six weeks after birth.
- Provide information and support about breastfeeding and infant
care.
- Refer for medical care if signs of complications develop
during the post-birth or newborn period.
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