Maternal Health

Outcomes
Specific Objectives

1. Discuss nutritional needs of breastfeeding

women.
2. Outline how breastfeeding assists in child
spacing.

3. Discuss breastfeeding management when

the mother is ill.

4. Review basic information on medications

and breastfeeding.
Nutritional needs of breastfeeding
woman

Eat variety of foods in sufficient amounts

to get protein, vitamins and minerals she
needs.
No special foods to eat or avoid.
Severe malnourished woman.
reduced in quantity, slightly lower in fat
and some vitamins , BUT still of good quality.
Drink to relieve thirst.
How breastfeeding helps to space
pregnancies ?

Breastfeeding can delay

ovulation and menstruation.
Lactation Amenorrhea Method (LAM)
Ask the mother or advise her to ask herself these three questions:
1. Have your menses returned?
NO
2. Are you giving supplements
YES
or are there long periods
without breastfeeding either
day or night?
NO
3. Is your baby more than six
months old?
NO
There is only a 1-2% chance of
pregnancy at this time.
13/1
YES When the answer to ANY
one of these questions
becomes YES
The mothers chance of
pregnancy is increased.
For continued
protection,and to achieve
YES child spacing, a
complementary family
planning method needs
to be used, and
breastfeeding continue.
Institute for Reproductive Health, Georgetown, Washington, DC
Breastfeeding when mother is ill
Womans body makes antibodies
against infection to breastmilk
to baby.

Stopping breastfeeding may lead to:

Sore breast
Crying baby (sign of distress)

difficult to return to BF
Assist BF when Mom is ill

Explain value of continuing BF

Minimize separation
Give plenty of fluids
Comfortable position
Express milk (if needed) cup
feed
Maternal Health & Breastfeeding
Mother hospitalized?
Maternal addiction?
Maternal common contagious illness like
Chest infection? / Sore throat?
Gastrointestinal infection?
Maternal Infection
Tuberculosis? Hepatitis B?
Mastitis?
copy of MATERNAL ILLNESS AND BREASTFEEDING
HIV / AIDS
UNICEF/WHO Infant Feeding Recommendation
for HIV-positive Women

When replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible,

affordable, sustainable, and safe, avoidance of all
breastfeeding by HIV-infected mothers is
recommended. Otherwise, exclusive breastfeeding
is recommended during the first months of life and
should be then discontinued as soon as it is
feasible.
Medications and Breastfeeding

Choose safe drug

Most drug pass thru BM only in small
amounts & few affect baby.

Affect a preterm baby (< 2 mos old)

Unsure drug
continue breastfeeding
watch for side effects
ask specialized health worker
Give out photocopy of :

Maternal Illness and Breastfeeding

(DRAFT)

Breastfeedingand Mothers
Medication - Summary