Dairy game /8th June 2023/ Health talk for Pregnant women in the hospital

Pregnant women should be one of the very ones we give particular attention to. This day was for the pregnant women in the hospital. As early as 8am I was already present at the hospital.

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As part of our task for today, we were to carry out a health talk for pregnant women coming for antenatal care in the hospital.

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It was quite interesting, maybe because it was my first time being a part of such a lecture.

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As Pharmacists, we were invited to join and also give a health talk to the expectant mothers.

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The nurses had the first section. A licensed and seasoned antenatal care nurse gave the first lecture.

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Her lecture was on breastfeeding and complementary feeding.

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During the process she demonstrated perfect posture for breastfeeding a baby. She also urged mothers to assign responsibility to others and never do the whole tasks alone. Mothers should learn to sleep when their baby is sleeping, they too need rest.

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Shortly after the nurses session, the pharmacists were invited to give a health talk to the pregnant women.

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The pharmacist in charge had the floor for this day.

She talked about routine medication for pregnant women. She emphasized the fact that these women all need to take their routine drugs seriously, including folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin B Complex, ferrous sulfate. Other expensive brands or products include pregnacare, prenatalcare, pregmum and a whole lot of other brands available.

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These drugs contain essential vitamins necessary for the child and mother's growth. They were advised to keep eating fruits as much as they can so as to obtain necessary nutrients they probably couldn't take from the synthetic drugs.

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The lecture was very clear to them. The pregnant women were urged to ask questions where they needed clarification. It was quite interactive as during this time, the majority had questions to ask, the pharmacist provided answers were necessary.

Another Pharmacist spoke on Rhesus' negativity. This topic is very important because a lot of women do not have an idea of their blood group which should give them an edge in knowing their rhesus factor.

I want to use this medium to recap certain things we talked to the pregnant women about Rhesus negativity.

Rhesus factor:
These are proteins on the surface of your red blood cells. Determined by whether your blood group is negative or positive.

Rhesus negative woman blood does not get compatible with the rhesus positive of her child.

However, during delivery, the blood might get mixed and bring a problem. When the blood mixes, antibodies are produced and attack subsequent pregnancy.

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In this case, Anti immunoglobulin D is a drug (injection) given to these women with rhesus negative at the 28 week of pregnancy and at least 72 hours after delivery. It reduces the sensitized antibody and helps you carry your baby up to term in subsequent pregnancies.

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Popular brand of this injection is Rhogam. It's quite expensive here in Nigeria, but mothers still need to take it as it will save the life of their child and the subsequent pregnancies.

I will say this topic was captivating and discussed at the right time.

The women asked questions to clarify where they didn't get a point. It was so interactive, in fact they didn't want us to leave.

my colleague and I at the end of the Pharmacists health talk

We promised to call back in subsequent time to discuss another interesting topic that will be very peculiar to them. We advised them to never miss their antenatal care booking.

After all said and done, we wish the women a save delivery and departed to our various working units at the hospital.