Course: Postnatal Care

Topic outline

General
- About/License Page
  About
- Pre-test Quiz
Topic 1
Postnatal Care at the Health Post and in the Community
- Introduction Page
- Learning Outcomes Page
- Video: Basic Skills Page
- Why is effective postnatal care so important? Page
  Why is effective postnatal care so important?
- When do most mothers and newborns die in the postnatal period? Page
  When do most mothers and newborns die in the postnatal period?
- What do mothers and newborns in the postnatal period die from? Page
  What do mothers and newborns in the postnatal period die from?
- Why are women and newborns at high risk in the postnatal period? Page
- Physiological changes in the postnatal mother Page
  Physiological changes in the postnatal mother
- Complications in the newborn Page
  Complications in the newborn
- Your actions in the postnatal period Page
  Your actions in the postnatal period
- Evaluating the postnatal mother Page
  Evaluating the postnatal mother
- Evaluating the newborn baby Page
  Evaluating the newborn baby
- Video: How to care for a newborn - the first hours after delivery Page
- Follow-up after immediate postnatal care Page
  Follow-up after immediate postnatal care
- Community mobilisation for postnatal care Page
- Methods for mobilising community action Page
  Methods for mobilising community action
- Why is community participation so important? Page
- Establishing partnerships with community gatekeepers Page
  Establishing partnerships with community gatekeepers
- Conducting a community profile Page
  Conducting a community profile
- Summary Page
- Quiz
Topic 2
The Normal Puerperium
- Introduction Page
- Learning Outcomes Page
- Changes in reproductive organs during the puerperium Page
- Uterus Page
- Cervix Page
- Vagina and vulva Page
  Vagina and vulva
- Perineum Page
- Abdominal wall Page
- Ovaries Page
  Ovaries
- Breasts and initiation of lactation Page
  Breasts and initiation of lactation
- Excretion of excess body fluids Page
  Excretion of excess body fluids
- Looking after the baby Page
  Looking after the baby
- Rest and recovery for the mother Page
- Birth control options Page
  Birth control options
- In conclusion Page
  In conclusion
- Summary Page
- Quiz
Topic 3
The Abnormal Puerperium
- Introduction Page
- Learning Outcomes Page
- Video: Prevention & Management of Primary Postpartum Haemorrhage Page
- Postpartum haemorrhage Page
  Postpartum haemorrhage
- Causes of late postpartum haemorrhage Page
  Causes of late postpartum haemorrhage
- Pre-referral management of PPH Page
  Pre-referral management of PPH
- Puerperal sepsis and fever Page
  Puerperal sepsis and fever
- Endometritis Page
  Endometritis
- Urinary tract infections Page
- Puerperal mastitis Page
  Puerperal mastitis
- Wound infection Page
  Wound infection
- Screening for postpartum hypertension Page
  Screening for postpartum hypertension
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) Page
  Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Psychiatric disorders in the postnatal period Page
- Postpartum 'blues' and postpartum depression Page
  Postpartum ‘blues’ and postpartum depression
- Summary Page
- Quiz
Topic 4
Preparation for Postnatal Care
- Introduction Page
- Learning Outcomes Page
- Video: How to care for a newborn Page
- Home visits: the best opportunity to provide postnatal care Page
  Home visits: the best opportunity to provide postnatal care
- Barriers to facility-based postnatal care Page
  Barriers to facility-based postnatal care
- Evidence that home visits improve the effectiveness of PNC Page
  Evidence that home visits improve the effectiveness of PNC
- Schedule for postnatal home visits Page
  Schedule for postnatal home visits
- Personal hygiene Page
  Personal hygiene
- Equipment Page
  Equipment
- Key steps to follow while conducting a home visit Page
  Key steps to follow while conducting a home visit
- Counselling mothers during the postnatal period Page
  Counselling mothers during the postnatal period
- Summary Page
- Quiz
Topic 5
Routine Postnatal Care for the Mother
- Introduction Page
- Learning Outcomes Page
- Routine core postnatal care for the mother Page
- Check the mother's vital signs Page
  Check the mother's vital signs
- Check if her uterus is contracting normally Page
  Check if her uterus is contracting normally
- Clean the mother's belly, genitals and legs Page
  Clean the mother's belly, genitals and legs
- Check for heavy bleeding (haemorrhage) Page
- Check the mother's genitals for tears and other problems Page
  Check the mother’s genitals for tears and other problems
- Help the mother to urinate Page
  Help the mother to urinate
- Eating and drinking in the first few hours Page
  Eating and drinking in the first few hours
- Counselling on postnatal nutrition Page
  Counselling on postnatal nutrition
- Preventing iodine deficiency Page
  Preventing iodine deficiency
- Preventing vitamin A deficiency Page
  Preventing vitamin A deficiency
- Preventing iron and folate deficiency Page
  Preventing iron and folate deficiency
- Emotional support for the mother Page
- Fathers and other family members can help Page
  Fathers and other family members can help
- When the mother isn't interested in her baby Page
  When the mother isn’t interested in her baby
- Encouraging care-seeking behaviour Page
  Encouraging care-seeking behaviour
- Summary Page
- Quiz
Topic 6
Routine Screening of Newborns for Life-Threatening Conditions
- Introduction Page
- Learning Outcomes Page
- Video: Newborn physical exam Page
- Your first actions before assessing a newborn Page
  Your first actions before assessing a newborn
- Screening the newborn for general danger signs Page
  Screening the newborn for general danger signs
- How can you recognise a convulsion in a newborn? Page
  How can you recognise a convulsion in a newborn?
- Is the newborn lethargic or unconscious? Page
  Is the newborn lethargic or unconscious?
- Is the baby breathing too fast? Page
  Is the baby breathing too fast?
- Video: Breathing Problems Page
- Video: How to care for a newborn - what to do when a newborn is not breathing Page
- Is the baby's temperature normal? Page
  Is the baby’s temperature normal?
- Does the baby have jaundice? Page
- Infection in the newborn Page
  Infection in the newborn
- What are the signs of eye infection in newborns? Page
  What are the signs of eye infection in newborns?
- What are the signs of an infected umbilical cord stump? Page
  What are the signs of an infected umbilical cord stump?
- Video: Umbilical Infections Page
- What are the signs of skin infection? Page
  What are the signs of skin infection?
- What is neonatal tetanus? Page
  What is neonatal tetanus?
- How can you prevent infection in newborns? Page
  How can you prevent infection in newborns?
- Neonatal assessment check list for critical conditions Page
  Neonatal assessment check list for critical conditions
- Video: Neonatal Resuscitation Page
- Summary Page
- Quiz
Topic 7
Breastfeeding, the Warm Chain Principle and Counselling HIV-Positive Mothers
- Introduction Page
- Learning Outcomes Page
- Video: Food for Life - Breastfeeding Page
- Counselling the mother on newborn feeding Page
  Counselling the mother on newborn feeding
- Four signs of good positioning Page
  Four signs of good positioning
- Four signs of good attachment Page
  Four signs of good attachment
- Effective suckling Page
- What are the benefits of breastfeeding? Page
- Benefits to the newborn of breastfeeding Page
  Benefits to the newborn of breastfeeding
- Benefits to the mother of breastfeeding Page
  Benefits to the mother of breastfeeding
- Video: Benefits of breastfeeding Page
- Video: Breastfeeding technique Page
- Breastfeeding and birth control Page
  Breastfeeding and birth control
- Counselling the HIV-positive mother about feeding her baby Page
  Counselling the HIV-positive mother about feeding her baby
- Breast milk or formula? Page
- Replacement feeding and the AFASS criteria Page
  Replacement feeding and the AFASS criteria
- Reducing the HIV risk from breastfeeding Page
- Keeping the baby warm Page
  Keeping the baby warm
- How to take the newborn's temperature Page
  How to take the newborn's temperature
- When are newborns at greatest risk of hypothermia? Page
- How do newborns lose heat? Page
  How do newborns lose heat?
- The warm chain principle in postnatal care Page
  The warm chain principle in postnatal care
- Summary Page
- Quiz
Topic 8
Special Care for Preterm and Low Birth Weight Babies
- Introduction Page
- Learning Outcomes Page
- Why do preterm or low birth weight babies need special care? Page
  Why do preterm or low birth weight babies need special care?
- Classification of preterm and low birth weight babies Page
- Classification on birth weight Page
- Classification on gestational age Page
  Classification on gestational age
- Counselling on how to feed preterm and low birth weight babies Page
- Breastfeeding and cup feeding Page
- Tips to help a mother breastfeed a preterm or low birth weight baby Page
  Tips to help a mother breastfeed a preterm or low birth weight baby
- Expressing breast milk Page
  Expressing breast milk
- Show mothers how to cup feed the baby Page
  Show mothers how to cup feed the baby
- Special care to keep preterm and low birth weight babies warm Page
  Special care to keep preterm and low birth weight babies warm
- Kangaroo Mother Care Page
- KMC procedures Page
  KMC procedures
- Checking the baby is OK in KMC Page
- Counselling the family on the benefits of KMC Page
- How long should KMC continue? Page
- Summary Page
- Quiz
Topic 9
Making a Referral for Postnatal Care
- Introduction Page
- Learning Outcomes Page
- Video: Referring a Sick Baby Page
- Effective referral Page
  Effective referral
- The referral link: a two-way street Page
  The referral link: a two-way street
- Receiving feedback Page
- Knowing about local health facilities Page
  Knowing about local health facilities
- What prevents referrals from happening effectively? Page
  What prevents referrals from happening effectively?
- How to make referrals happen Page
- Good documentation Page
  Good documentation
- Transport and the emergency evacuation plan Page
  Transport and the emergency evacuation plan
- Making sure the health facility knows how to communicate with you Page
  Making sure the health facility knows how to communicate with you
- Summary Page
- Quiz