Reprinted through the courtesy of the editors of Awake!

magazine
(issue of November 2009, pages 26-29) (rpn09 11a-E)
5 2010 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved.

Healthy Mothers,
HealthyBabies
C ONTENTED and healthy, a newborn
baby lies cradled in its mother’s arms.
The father is aglow with pride. Because this
delivery. Let us consider these points in more
detail.
happy scene occurs millions of times every Causes of Childbirth Problems
year, it is easy to take normal childbirth for One cause of childbirth problems for both
granted. After all, it is a natural process—so, mother and baby is lack of good care dur-
what is there to worry about? ing pregnancy. Dr. Cheung Kam-lau, consul-
Granted, births usually go well, but not al- tant pediatrician for the neonatal care unit
ways. Hence, prudent prospective parents of Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong,
take reasonable measures to avoid unneces- says that “having no prenatal care can put
sary complications. For example, they learn pregnancies in high risk.” He also states that
about the causes of childbirth problems, they “most of these mothers expect healthy, chub-
seek quality prenatal care, and they take some by babies, but things just don’t always happen
simple steps to reduce risks during labor and ideally.”

1
 Regarding the problems that can affect states that human life is sacred, including that
mothers, the Journal of the American Medi- of the unborn.—Exodus 21:22, 23;1 Deuteron-
cal Women’s Association states that “the major omy 22:8.
direct causes of maternal mortality” are ex- Does adequate care mean seeing a doctor
cessive bleeding, obstructed labor, infection, every week? No, not necessarily. In regard
and abnormally high blood pressure. Effec- to certain common complications that arise
tive treatments are well-known, however, and during pregnancy and childbirth, the World
in most cases “modern medical care . . . does Health Organization (WHO) “found that
not require highly technical interventions,” women who visited their doctors only four
the journal adds. times during their pregnancy” enjoyed results
Readily available care could also help that “were comparable to those who had 12 or
many babies. The UN Chronicle reports that more visits.”
What Doctors May Do
According to figures released in In order to improve prospects for the moth-
October 2007, one woman dies er and her unborn child, health-care profes-
nearly every minute—536,000 sionals, particularly those who specialize in
a year—because of problems obstetrics, take the following steps:
associated with pregnancy. ˛ They review the patient’s medical histo-
—United Nations Population Fund ry and perform an examination to determine
risk and forestall complications that may in-
volve the mother or her developing baby.
“two thirds of newborn deaths could be pre- ˛ They may take blood and urine samples
vented if all mothers and newborns” obtained to check for such problems as anemia, in-
medical treatment that is “well-known, fea- fection, Rh incompatibility, and disease. The
sible and deliverable without complex tech- latter may include diabetes, rubella, sexual-
nology.” Sadly, though, the lack of knowledge ly transmitted diseases, and kidney disease,
and the laxity in prenatal care on the part of which can elevate blood pressure.
mothers is all too common, reports the Phil- ˛ When advisable and acceptable to the
ippines News Agency. patient, they may recommend vaccinations
Optimal Prenatal Care for such things as influenza, tetanus, and Rh
for Mother and Baby incompatibility.
“Healthier mothers have healthier babies,” ˛ They may also recommend vitamin sup-
says the UN Chronicle. It also observes that plements, especially folic acid.
when a woman gets inadequate medical care When doctors identify the risks associat-
or none at all during pregnancy, childbirth, ed with individual pregnancies and take the
and the period thereafter, her baby also re- needed precautions—or help the mother to do
ceives little or no medical care. so—they enhance the prospects of a positive
In some lands it may be difficult for a preg- outcome for her and her unborn baby.
nant woman to get adequate care. Perhaps
she has far to travel, or she may be unable to Minimizing Risks
During Labor and Delivery
cover medical costs. Still, if at all possible,
an expectant mother should try to get at least “The most dangerous time for a pregnant
some professional prenatal care. This is par- woman is the critical period around labour
ticularly important for a woman who lives by 1 The original Hebrew text refers to a fatal accident to either
the teachings found in the Holy Bible, which mother or unborn child.
2
and delivery,” says Joy Phumaphi, former questions to ask the doctor: 1. What will you
assistant director general for Family and do if the mother or the baby loses a significant
Community Health at WHO. What can be amount of blood or if there are other compli-
done to prevent serious problems, even life- cations? 2. If you are not here when the baby
threatening ones, at this critical time? Actual- comes, what alternative arrangements will be
ly, the steps are simple, but they do need to be made?
taken in advance.1 This is especially impor-
tant for those who refuse blood transfusions
for Bible-based reasons or for those who want “Each year 3.3 million babies
to avoid blood because of the significant med- are stillborn and more than
ical risks.—Acts 15:20, 28, 29. 4 million newborns die within
Such patients should do what they reason- 28 days of coming into the
ably can to ensure that the health-care pro- world.”— UN Chronicle
vider, whether a doctor or a midwife, is both
competent and experienced in administer-
ing medical alternatives to blood transfu- The prudent woman will, of course, check
sion. Also, expectant parents would be wise with her doctor to ensure that her blood
to check that the hospital or delivery facility count is as high as possible within the normal
is willing to cooperate.2 Here are two good range prior to labor. To build up the patient’s
blood, the doctor, in turn, might recommend
1 See the box “Preparation During Pregnancy.” that she take folic acid and other B-group vi-
2 Couples who are Jehovah’s Witnesses may consult with
the local Hospital Liaison Committee (HLC) for Jehovah’s tamins, as well as iron supplements.
Witnesses before the birth of their child. Committee members The doctor will also consider a num-
visit hospitals and doctors to provide them with medical infor-
mation on the nonblood management of Witness patients. Ad- ber of other factors. For example, did his
ditionally, HLCs likely can assist in finding a physician who patient’s prenatal visits reveal any health
respects the patient’s beliefs and who has experience in non-
blood medical management. problems that may need attention? Does the
3
prospective mother need to be off her feet? and maternal death, especially in developing
Should she get more rest? Would it be wise lands.
for her to gain or lose weight or get more ex- Indeed, a careful physician will give atten-
ercise? And does she need to give more at- tion to any sign of infection in the prospec-
tention to bodily hygiene, including oral hy- tive mother. And if she has premature labor
giene? pains, he will recommend prompt hospitaliza-
Studies show that gum disease in pregnant tion, which can be lifesaving.
women is associated with an increased risk “Women risk death to give life,” says
of preeclampsia, a serious complication that Dr. Quazi Monirul Islam, director at WHO’s
is characterized by, among other things, a Department of Making Pregnancy Safer.
sudden rise in blood pressure, severe head- But good medical care during pregnancy, at
ache, and edema (excess buildup of fluid in birth, and immediately afterward can help to
the tissues).1 Preeclampsia can lead to pre- avert many complications, even death. Most
mature delivery and is a leading cause of fetal important, of course, try to maintain good
health. After all, if you want a healthy baby,
1 Although more studies are required to determine if gum you need to do your best to be a healthy
disease causes an increased risk of preeclampsia, it is always
wise to take good care of your gums and teeth. mother.

PREPARATION DURING PREGNANCY

1. Choose your hospital, whether there is any com- 5. Document personal

doctor, or midwife wisely by pletely safe level of alcohol decisions relating to medical
doing advance research. during pregnancy,” states the care. For example, many
2. Make regular visits to National Institute on Alcohol have found it helpful to have
your doctor or midwife, es- Abuse and Alcoholism. a durable power of attorney
tablishing a trusting, friendly 4. If you experience pre- (DPA) card filled out ahead
relationship. mature labor pains (prior to of time. Find out what is
3. Give careful attention to the 37th week), contact your used and legally acceptable
your health. If possible, take doctor or maternity ward im- in your country.
the appropriate vitamins, but mediately. Prompt attention 6. After the birth be
avoid medication (even over- may help to prevent a prema-
the-counter products) unless mindful of your health and
ture delivery and the compli- that of your baby, especially
your doctor approves. It is cations that can result.1
wise to avoid alcohol. “Al- if the baby came prematurely.
though the highest risk is to 1 Blood transfusions are commonly Consult the pediatrician right
given to anemic premature babies, whose away if you observe any
babies whose mothers drink organs have difficulty producing sufficient
heavily, it is not clear yet red blood cells. problems.