Lesson 1-A Courtship, Dating, Engagement and Marriage

Family is the foundation of society which is primarily responsible for shaping the lives of its members. It
is also considered as a place where you can be yourself and accepted for what you are and it will be
formed because of love.

Love VS Infatuation

Infatuation is a falling in love with or

Love is an intense, deep affection for
becoming extremely interested in
another person.
someone or something for a short time.

Dating is a way of sharing experiences and social activities with another person to whom you are
attracted to. Some teenagers would start dating in high school while others would not do so until later
in life. It often develops out of group activities that include both males and females. Such activities can
include sports event, eat outs, and other group get-togethers. During these activities, one may discover
that he/she enjoys being with a certain friend of the opposite sex. It is natural and healthy to feel this
way and to want to know the person better.

Courtship is the process by which a man seeks the affections of a woman. The purpose of courtship is to
determine each other's readiness for marriage. This a period that eventually leads to engagement and
marriage at the end. A relationship that has gone through the process of courtship offers more stability
as it ensures each other's readiness, commitment, and understanding of each other's responsibilities.

Engagement is the period of time between a marriage proposal and the marriage itself, where both man
and woman in love agreed to have a long-life companionship.

Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock is a culturally recognized union between people called
spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children,
and between them and their in-laws.

It is one of the most important commitments you will make in life. It will affect you, your partner, your
family, your friends, and future generations.

There are many reasons why people marry. Some do so because they desire love and companionship
from another person. Others want to start a family of their own. Some marry for financial, social, and
cultural reasons.
Love may be a basic element in successful marriage, but it is not the only one. The following are some
factors that contribute to a successful marriage.

1. Commitment
Feelings come and go, but a true decision to be committed lasts forever. Marriage is a decision to be
committed through the ups and the downs, the good and the bad. When things are going well,
commitment is easy. But true love displayed by remaining committed even through the trials of life.

2. Compromise
The ability to compromise is also needed in married life in case they have conflicts. Compromise is the
willingness of each person to give up something to be able to reach to an agreement and avoid conflict.

3. Communication
Healthy marriage partners communicate as much as possible. They certainly discuss kids' schedules,
grocery lists, and utility bills. But they don't stop there. They also communicate hopes, dreams, fears,
and anxieties. They don't just discuss the changes that are taking place in the kid's life , they also discuss
the changes that are taking place in their own hearts and souls.

4. Time
Any successful relationship requires intentional, quality time together. And quality time rarely happens
when quantity time is absent. The relationship with your spouse should be the most intimate and deep
relationship you have. Therefore, it is going to require more time than any other relationship. If possible,
set aside time each day for your spouse. And a date-night once in a while wouldn't hurt either.

5. Humility
We all have weaknesses and relationships always reveal these faults quicker than anything else on
earth. An essential building block of a healthy marriage is the ability to admit that you are not perfect,
that you will make mistakes, and that you will need forgiveness. Holding an attitude of superiority over
your partner will bring about resentment and will prevent your relationship from moving forward.

Responsible Parenthood
The family is the basic unit of society. It is where children are raised and values are passed from one
generation to another. The family is also important to social health because it is where a person first
develops his/ her relationship with others. To maintain a happy family and social health, each family
member must do his/ her part. Some responsibilities are for adults while others are for children. Shared
responsibilities are also encountered. Adult responsibilities include providing food, shelter, clothing,
education, and love. Adult also need to impart and teach acceptable behavior to children.

Family size has an effect on family health. Ideally, a married couple should have two to three children.
This number allows parents to spend quality time with their child or children. Financially, the family can
be sustained in health and education with this number of children. A family consisting of five or more
children will carry more demands for the parents to attend to physical and emotional needs of the
children. Sometimes, parents would have a difficult time keeping their children healthy. That is the
reason why rapid population growth has a negative effect on the health of the nation.

Maternal Health
Maternal health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period.
Each stage should be a positive experience, ensuring women and their babies reach their full potential
for health and well-being.

Pregnancy
Pregnancy is the term used to describe the period in which a fetus develops inside a woman's womb or
uterus. It usually lasts about 40 weeks, or just over 9 months, as measured from the last menstrual
period to delivery.

- Teenage pregnancies are premature because they occur in mothers who maybe too young
and/or immature to care for a child adequately. It carries extra health risks to both the
mother and the baby. They have a higher risk for pregnancy-related high blood pressure and
its complications. Risks for the baby include premature birth and a low birth weight.

Before Pregnancy
If you are thinking about getting pregnant, visit a doctor for pre-pregnancy care. Pre-pregnancy care
helps find issues that could affect your pregnancy. so you and your doctor can take steps to avoid
potential problems.

Your doctor will talk with you about your: medical history and family's medical history
• Current health issues
• Diet, vitamins, and lifestyle
• Safety of any medications/supplements you're taking
• Pregnancy history
• Safety at home and work

Before pregnancy, women need nutritious and safe diets to establish sufficient reserves for pregnancy.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, energy and nutrient needs increase.
During Pregnancy
Pregnancy symptoms and complications can range from mild and annoying discomforts to severe,
sometimes life-threatening, illnesses. Sometimes it can be difficult for a woman to determine which
symptoms are normal and which are not. Problems during pregnancy may include physical and mental
conditions that affect the health of the mother or the baby.

Common health problems:

• Anemia - this is caused by an iron-deficiency, or low red blood cell count, and can cause you to feel
tired, weak, and short of breath.
• Gestational diabetes - this occurs when you experience high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.
• High blood pressure - pregnancy hormones can cause an increase in blood pressure that results in
rapid weight gain, headaches, and dizziness. Note: this could lead to preeclampsia, a dangerous
condition that requires immediate medical attention.
• Depression or antenatal depression - occurs during some pregnancies due to changes in hormone
levels.
• Birth defects - these are abnormalities present at birth that could impair your baby's functionality.

PRENATAL CARE
Prenatal care is health care for pregnant women that ensure the health of both mother and baby.
Prenatal care involves regular check-ups with health care professionals as well as a careful nutrition and
diet plan. Women without prenatal care are 3-5 times more likely to experience complications with their
babies. That's why it is vital to implement a health care plan.

POSTNATAL CARE
Postnatal care is the care given to the mother and her new born baby immediately after the birth and
for the first six weeks of life.
A. Newborn screening refers to a set of special tests, including blood, hearing, and heart screening,
done to one- to two-day-old infants, usually before they leave the hospital. This is to check for any
serious health disorders that do not show signs at birth.
B. APGAR Scoring System
Apgar is a quick test performed on a baby at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. The1-minute score determines
how well the baby tolerated the birthing process. The 5-minute score tells the health care provider how
well the baby is doing outside the mother's womb.
The Apgar test is done by a doctor, midwife, or nurse. The provider examines the baby's:
• Breathing effort
• Heart rate
• Muscle tone
• Reflexes
• Skin color
Each category is scored with 0, 1, or 2, depending on the observed condition.
Essential Newborn Care Protocol
The ENC Protocol was developed the Newborn Care Technical Working Group (TWG) that conducted a
systematic search and critical appraisal of foreign and local medical and allied health literature on
practices in the immediate newborn period.

At the heart of the protocol are four (4) time-bound interventions.

1) Immediate and thorough drying
Immediate and thorough drying of the newborn prevents hypothermia which is extremely important to
newborn survival
2) Early skin-to-skin contact
Keeping the mother and baby in uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact prevents hypothermia,
hypoglycemia and sepsis, increases colonization with protective bacterial flora and improved
breastfeeding initiation and exclusivity
3) Properly-timed clamping and cutting of the cord after 1 to 3 minutes
Properly timed cord clamping and cutting until the umbilical cord pulsation stops decreasing anemia in
one out of every seven term babies and one out of every three preterm babies. It also prevents brain
(intraventricular) hemorrhage in one of two preterm babies.
4) Non-separation of the newborn from the mother for early breastfeeding initiation and rooming-in
Breastfeeding initiation within the first hour of life prevents an estimated 19.1% of all neonatal deaths.

Advantages of Breastfeeding

For Babies:
1. Breast milk provides ideal nutrition for babies.
2. Breast milk contains important antibodies.
3. Breastfeeding may reduce disease risk.
4. Breast milk promotes baby's healthy weight.
5. Breastfeeding may make children smarter.

For Mothers:
1. Breastfeeding may help you lose weight.
2. Mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk for depression.
3. Breastfeeding reduces your disease risk.
4. It saves time and money