Page 196 - Health, Population and Environment Education 10

child. The mother as well as child should be given special care and attention so as to
protect them from various complications and infections. The following things should be
considered during maternity period.
a. The mother should be given sufficient amount of nutrition like meat, egg, fish, milk,
legumes, etc. more than the normal time.
b. Mother should pay attention in cleaning her breast. She should clean her breast before
feeding her baby.
c. Infants should be bathed within few days of delivery.
d. It is better to wipe the infants with wet clothes in the first week.

e. Mother should be made to walk around for better circulation.
f. The baby should be breast fed on the same day of delivery.
g. The baby should be given first milk (yellow milk called colustrum) rather than
throwing it out.
h. Mother needs to evacuate breast while breast feeding a baby. She should breast feed
her baby from both the breast sufficiently.
i. The postnatal mother should not be allowed to lift heavy loads and do difficult tasks.
She may develop prolapse if she does difficult works or carries heavy loads.
j. People should be aware about golden 1000 days.
Activity: 4

Ask your grandfather or mother regarding caring of postnatal mother. Make a list to
take care of postnatal mother. Later on present in your class.

Infant and Child Health Care

During pregnancy period, foetus gets blood supply,
oxygen and nutrients from mother’s body. Foetus
gets protected from mother’s immunity power and
is safe inside mother’s uterus. After delivery, a baby
needs to survive on his/her own and cope with the
external environment. Hence, the health of infant/
baby becomes critical for certain months after
delivery. The infant may have several infections
and other health consequences. The normal weight
of baby at the time of birth should be (2.7-3.4) kg Fig: 24
and height 50 cm. The baby grows upto 75 cm and its weight increases 3 times within 1
year of age. Early 1000 days which are regarded as the golden 1000 days are very important
for overall development of child. People need to take care of health and nutrition of baby.
Generally, the following things are considered to care infants:
a. Nose and mouth of baby should be cleaned properly for making easy respiration.
After that, baby should be made to sleep by lowering the head.

196 GREEN Health, Population and Environment Education Book-10