Life is indeed precious. My new knowledge of early childhood development with emphasis on prenatal development through birth has given me deep appreciation for the privilege of haing a good prenatal care and safe delivery.
I have had the opportunity of giving birth four times and they were all wonderful experiences, with my husband haing the privilege of witnessing two of the deliveries. I was registered for antenatal care as soon as preganccy was confirmed usually by six weeks of gestation. I attended a welll built and purposefully furnished and well equiped hospital with professionally qualified medical pesoneel. Medical care was regular and available 24hrs. At every viist for clinical check up, the progress of the foetus was monitored and explained to me. Urine tests, protein tests were done, and blood pressure was properly monitored. I benefited a great deal from modern technology hence ultra scan was done at regular intervals.
I was educated about the process of labour and the first expereincw was very academic. I read books and prepared mentally, psychologically and physically to have the baby. The medical attendants gave assuarance that everything was progressing fine. I think it was great. The delivery process started as it was explained but not as straightforward. It was really painful, and almost unbearable, but the presence of careful nurses and assistants, helped to relive the pain, I was finally given an induction since the dilation process was becoming slow. I finally put my first baby to bed after being in labour for close to 12hrs. The sliding on the baby through the birth carnal was intriguing.
The joy of seeing the new baby boy cancelled the pain and I felt the warmth of caring my own baby and trying to feed, hoo,hoo, after pains came and I must confess, no one taught me that before and so I was shocked to find myself in deep pain each time I tried to feeed my baby, it was later explained to me as my uterus trying to contract back to shape and that it was good for my health. In all, it was an experience of a lifetime.
Other experiences: In a developing country, what I have just described does not happen in all cases. My research and investigations reveal that many women still prefer to have their babies at home or at local delivery centres. They are only taken to Government hospitals when there is an emergency. Because of this, they have no access to quality prenatal teachings to give them understanding about the development of their young baby and what they can do ensure that they are healthy, education about nuitrition, basic hygiene and ready to have a healthy baby too.. Many disabilities are looked at as satanic and in cultural context treated with herbs which are not really effective. As a result of this infant mortality and maternal mortality is unfortunately still high.
Public enlightenment and campaign are needed and more government delivery centres may help in the education of mothers to take up the challenge of ensuring optimal health for themselves and their unborn child.
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