The World Health Organization issued 49 new recommendations to prevent deaths in childbirth. One of these recommendations: women should see a doctor or midwife at least eight times during each pregnancy, five of these visits at the last trimester. Previously, the organization had advised women to visit clinics four times per pregnancy.
Each of the eight recommended visits should be with someone with at least two years of medical training. Dr. Metin Gülmezoglu, W.H.O’s coordinator of maternal and perinatal health, even stated that these visits should not be with a traditional birth attendant or a community health worker trained for a few weeks.
W.H.O says that 300,00 women die during pregnancy or childbirth each year and more than six million babies die in the womb, during birth or during the first month. Several of these deaths can be prevented through simple interventions.
Additionally, it is suggested by The World Health Organization, that every pregnant woman has one ultrasound scan before the 24-week mark to detect fetal defects and twin and triplet pregnancies and determine accurate gestational ages.
The agency also recommended the following new guidelines for pregnancy:
- Antibiotics when bacteria are detected in urine.
- Blood-sugar testing to detect diabetes.
- A tetanus shot in order to prevent neonatal tetanus.
- Counseling about what affordable local foods contain vitamins and minerals, about the dangers of alcohol and tobacco, and about the need for exercise.
- Daily iron and folic acid pills to prevent anemia, sepsis, and premature birth.
The W.H.O also recommended home remedies, like bran for constipation, antacids for heartburn, compression stockings for leg swelling, and exercise or acupuncture for back pain.
If your baby suffered from any type of birth complication or injury, contact Thurswell Law immediately at (248) 354-2222.
Source: The New York Times
