MATERNAL NURSING
Placement: First Year Time Allotted: Theory -60 hrs.
Practical - 240 hrs.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to widen the student’s knowledge of obstetrics during
pregnancy, labour and puerperium. It also helps to acquire knowledge and develop
skill in rendering optimum nursing care to a child bearing mother in a hospital or
community and help in the management of common gynecological problems.
OBJECTIVES
At end of the course, the student will
1. Describe the physiology of pregnancy, labour and puerperium.
2. Manage normal pregnancy, labour and puerperium.
3. Explain the physiology of lactation and advice on management of
breast feeding.
4. Be skilled in providing pre and post operative nursing care in
obstetric conditions.
5. Identify and manage high risk pregnancy including appropriate referrals.
6. Propagate the concept and motivate acceptance of family planning methods.
7. Teach, guide and supervise auxiliary midwifery personnel.
COURSE CONTENTS
UNIT I 3 Hours
➢ Introduction and historical review
➢ Planned parenthood
➢ Maternal morbidity and mortality rates
➢ Legislations related to maternity benefits, MTP acts, incentives for
family planning etc.,
UNIT II 3 Hours
➢ Review of the anatomy and physiology of female reproductive system.
➢ Female pelvis(normal and contracted)
➢ Review of foetal development.
UNIT III 17 Hours
➢ Physiology and management of pregnany, labour and puerperium
➢ Signs and symptoms and diagnosis of pregnancy
➢ Antenatal care
➢ Pregnant women with HIV/AIDS
➢ Management of common gynaecological problems.
UNIT IV 8 Hours
➢ The New born baby
➢ Care of the baby at birth including resuscitation
➢ Essential Newborn Care
• Feeding
• Jaundice and infection
• Small and large for date babies
• Intensive care of the new born
• Trauma and haemorrhage.
UNIT V 20 Hours
➢ Management of abnormal pregnancy, labour and puerperium
➢ Abortion, ectopic pregnancy and vesicular mole.
➢ Pregnancy induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, anaemia, heart disease.
➢ Urinary infections, Antepartum hemorrhage
➢ Abnormal labour (malposition and malpresentation)
➢ Uterine inertia
➢ Disorders or puerperium
➢ Management of engorged breast, cracked nipples, breast abscess and mastitis
➢ Pueperal sepsis
➢ Post partum haemorrhage
➢ Inversion and prolapse of uterus, obstetrical emergencies
➢ Obstetrical operations i.e. forceps, vacuum, episiotomy, caesarean section.
UNIT VI 4 Hours
➢ Drugs in obstetrics
➢ Effects of drugs during pregnancy, labour and puerperium on mother and
baby.
UNIT VII 5 Hours
➢ National Welfare programmes for women
➢ National Family welfare programme
➢ Infertile family
➢ Problems associated with unwated pregnancy
➢ Unwed mothers.
PRACTICUM
1. The students will
a. Be posted in antenatal clinic, MCH Clinic, antenatal ward, labour room,
postnatal ward, maternity
OT, MTP room.
b. Visit welfare agencies for women and write observation report.
c. Follow nursing process in providing care to 3-6 patients.
d. Write at least two nursing care studies and do a presentation
e. Give at least one planned health teaching to a group of mothers.
2. Practice following nursing procedures.
a. Antenatal and postnatal examination, per vaginal exam.
b. Conduct normal delivery, stitching of episiotomy, (For male candidates’
minimum conduct of 5 deliveries)
c. Motivate family for planned parenthood.
d. Motivation of family for adopting family planning methods.
e. Assist in various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including IUD
insertion and removal.
Reference Books:
1. Fraser (DM), MMyles Textbook of Midwives, Churchill Livingstone,
14th Edtion, 2003
2. Dutta (DC), Textbook of Obstetrics, New Central Book Agency.
3. Lowdermilk, Maternity Nursing, Mosby, 7th Edition.
4. Willams, Obstetrics, Mc Grawhill, 22nd Edition.
5. Bobak, Maternity Nursing Care, Elsevier.
6. Maternity & Child Health Nursing Care for the childbearing family,
LWW, 5th edition.
7. Wong, Maternity Child Nursing Care, Mosby, 3rd Ed
