Global maternity care is a standardized, comprehensive framework of services designed by international bodies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), to ensure the health and safety of women and newborns worldwide. This framework views the reproductive journey as a continuous, interconnected process spanning from pre-pregnancy planning through the postpartum period. The goal is to provide evidence-based, person-centered care that reduces preventable maternal and infant deaths while promoting positive health outcomes for both mother and baby. By establishing global standards, this model seeks to diminish health inequalities and ensure women receive high-quality support during this significant transition.
Foundational Care Before Conception
The earliest phase of global maternity care begins before conception, focusing on optimizing a woman’s health to prepare her body for pregnancy. This preconception care involves a thorough risk assessment to identify and manage any pre-existing medical conditions that could complicate a future pregnancy. Conditions like chronic hypertension, diabetes, or thyroid disorders are addressed, often requiring medication adjustments to ensure they are controlled using agents safe for fetal development.
Nutritional counseling emphasizes the importance of folic acid supplementation, typically 400 micrograms daily, to significantly reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Achieving a healthy body weight is also discussed, as is a comprehensive review of immunization status against diseases like rubella and hepatitis B. Lifestyle factors addressed include smoking cessation, limiting alcohol, and providing family planning advice.
Essential Services During Pregnancy
Once pregnancy is confirmed, the focus shifts to Antenatal Care (ANC), structured around scheduled contact points for monitoring and prevention. Routine physical examinations are performed at each visit, including blood pressure checks to screen for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia. Fetal growth and well-being are monitored through physical assessments like measuring symphysio-fundal height, which tracks the size of the uterus.
Laboratory screenings are integrated, including blood tests for anemia, syphilis, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria is also recommended, as treating this condition can prevent persistent infection and reduce the risk of pre-term birth. An early ultrasound scan, ideally before 24 weeks gestation, is practiced to accurately estimate gestational age, screen for fetal anomalies, and identify multiple pregnancies.
Preventative measures include administering tetanus toxoid vaccination to protect both the mother and the newborn from neonatal tetanus. Health education is delivered during these sessions, covering personalized nutrition advice, recognizing warning signs of complications, and guidance on birth preparedness.
Support During Labor and Birth
Intrapartum care centers on ensuring a safe and respectful childbirth experience under the supervision of a trained professional, known as skilled attendance. Respectful maternity care is a core tenet, maintaining the woman’s dignity, privacy, and freedom from mistreatment. The process is guided by continuous support and clear communication between the woman and her care providers.
For low-risk women, fetal heart rate monitoring is typically performed intermittently using a Pinard stethoscope or Doppler device, rather than continuous electronic monitoring. Women are encouraged to remain mobile and adopt upright positions during labor. Pain management is offered based on individual preference, ranging from non-pharmacological techniques to pharmacological methods like epidural analgesia.
Protocols are in place for managing the third stage of labor, including the recommendation for delayed umbilical cord clamping—waiting at least one minute after birth—to improve infant health outcomes. A chosen companion is recommended to be present throughout labor and birth to provide continuous emotional support.
Postnatal Recovery and Newborn Checks
The postnatal period spans the first six weeks after birth, focusing on the mother’s recovery and the newborn’s transition. Maternal health monitoring in the immediate hours involves regular assessment of vaginal bleeding, uterine contraction, and blood pressure to detect postpartum hemorrhage or hypertensive issues. Follow-up contacts are recommended, typically a minimum of three additional checkups within the first six weeks: at 48–72 hours, between seven and 14 days, and at six weeks.
Newborn care begins immediately with essential interventions such as Apgar scoring, which assesses the baby’s appearance, pulse, activity, and respiration at one and five minutes after birth. Routine procedures include vaccination and administration of Vitamin K. Counseling and support for establishing exclusive breastfeeding are provided at each postnatal contact.
The mother’s psychological well-being is prioritized, with screening for postpartum depression and anxiety integrated into follow-up visits. Contraceptive counseling is also offered to allow informed decisions about birth spacing. This approach ensures the woman recovers physically and emotionally while the newborn receives necessary health support.