Clinical Hints for Perinatal Care

By Dr. Maher Rashed, PhD

 1- Continuing support and reassurance of the mother especially in the perinatal period are of great help to her.

2- Child birth classes are good supportive system in the society. These groups help the mother through the delivery period as well as aiding her in later infant and child care.

3- Mother and father should visit the maternity unit before labour.  This reduces their anxiety and promotes a good bond formation.

4- Once the delivery was completed, mother should receive her infant as early as she can.  Skin to skin contact and eye to eye contact should be encouraged in this period.

5- After delivery mother, father and baby should have a period alone.

6- Both the obstetrician and pediatrician should do their best to share all problems with a mother.

7- Mothers are best permitted to express themselves.

8- The nurses should report any worries they notice about mother behavior to accomplish this.

9- For an ill or premature infant in the N.I.C.U:

* It is useful to talk with the parents whenever possible.

* The physician has not to talk about chances or survival rates but stress that most babies survive in spite of early problems.

* He should not add his worries to those of the parents.

* At least once a day he has to discuss how the child is doing with the parents.

(Klaus and Kennell, 1970)