Pre-Natal Home Care Aims to Empower Smooth Pregnancy

A by-lined column by Ms Alka Uttamchandani, General Manager, Emirates Home Nursing

For every parent, the birth of a child is something they look forward to! While this might be exciting, it also has its own challenges. From pre-natal visits, to checking the expectant mum’s vitals, to pregnancy progress and to examine baby’s health and positioning. This might get overwhelming if there is no support system to help the mother through the pregnancy.

In lieu of the same, home nursing has witnessed a surge. Qualified and professional home nurses, guide the to-be-mothers through e pregnancy and support them in keeping the new born safe and healthy. As one of the most convenient and seamless service, home nursing offers expecting the mother a reliable access to CTG monitoring in the comfort of their home, where they can listen to their baby’s heartbeat. 

That’s not all! As an expectant parent, mothers have several questions including - When should my baby start kicking? What should I do to prevent stretch marks? Which side should I sleep while pregnant?

These questions can get daunting if the pregnant women are managing a pregnancy all by themselves. It is therefore recommended, to avail services of a team with highly qualified home nurses, who can help find answers for all questions related to pregnancy and new-born care, at every step of the way. A home nurse is a gateway to the hospital and can help to-be-mothers navigate birth preferences and make informed decisions. As a part of the community, they will also help build connections with other likeminded parents who share the same experience and can put pregnant women at ease.

Some of the key services that home nurses offer assistance with are –

• Monitor mother’s health by assessing the vitals like blood pressure, pulse and temperature
• Optimize mother’s diet for baby’s health
• Regularly track baby’s development
• Offer advice at each stage of pregnancy 
• Provide emotional and physical support 
• Relaxation exercises and techniques (proper breathing, meditation etc.)

Studies suggest that appropriate pre-natal care from qualified home nurses can help improve blood circulation, reduce maternal weight gain, lessen lower back pain, as well as prevent leg cramps and swelling, constipation, varicose veins and gestational diabetes. 

While home care is mostly suggested for women who have a high-risk pregnancy (a pregnancy at risk for complications) or who have circumstances that put the health of the mother or the baby’s health at risk, such as depression or homelessness, it is now opted as a service by several women who want to enjoy their pregnancy in the company of utmost care. The nourishment received by the expectant mother, would in turn make the baby healthier and instil positivity.

So, if you are an expectant mother, pamper yourself and rely on a home nurse to receive continuous, skilled care throughout each stage of e your pregnancy, delivery and post-natal experience to enjoy the most precious stage of your life.