Page 193 - Health, Population and Environment Education 10

pregnancy. During health check ups, pregnant woman will receive medical information
over maternal physiological change in pregnancy, biological changes and prenatal
nutrition including prenatal vitamins.
A healthy woman can give birth to a healthy child.
So, a pregnant woman should take care of her
health right from the time of conception. Similarly,
family members should take care of the health
of the pregnant woman. In rural areas of Nepal,
less care is being paid to pregnant woman due to
poverty, ignorance, lack of proper health eduction
and superstitions.

Pregnancy of a woman is a very sensitive and risky Fig: 17
period. Therefore, extra care should be given to the
pregnant woman. The pregnant woman should take nutritious foods and go to hospital
regularly for check up. Many women suffer from various problems due to lack of proper
care during pregnancy. The care that a pregnant woman should get can be presented as
follows:
a. Personal hygiene b. Nutritious food
c. Light exercise and rest d. Health check up
e. Use of medicine f. Immunization/vaccination

a. Personal Hygiene
Every individual must maintain personal hygiene
and sanitation so as to remain healthy and free
from diseases. Pregnant woman should strictly
maintain personal hygiene. During pregnancy,
there is discharge of vaginal fluid more than in
normal condition which may cause infection in
reproductive parts. Even it creates bad smelling as
well. Hence, she must maintain personal hygiene.
She must bathe and change clothes regularly. Fig: 18

b. Nutritious Food
During pregnancy time, a growing foetus gets nutrition
and oxygen from mother’s body. If a pregnant woman
is given nutritious food, there can be proper physical
and mental growth of foetus. Hence, pregnant woman
should be given nutritious food containing green leafy
vegetables, fish, meat, egg, milk and milk products,
legumes as well as iron and calcium rich substances.
She should be given soft, easily digestible and liquid
containing food. She must drink sufficient amount
of water so as to avoid constipation. If she does not
Fig: 19
GREEN Health, Population and Environment Education Book-10 193