2. Birth Preparedness
DEFINATION
• Birth plan or preparedness is an action that is developed by the women
and her family members.
• It is not written document but is an ongoing discussion with the
women and her family to ensure that she and her baby will receive
appropriate care promptly at the time of birth and if complication arise
before or after the birth.
• 15% of all pregnant woman develop a life threatening complication
requiring obstetric care
• Birth preparedness plan is usually given to the women during 1st
antenatal visit
3. National protocol for Birth Preparedness
and complication readiness
Encourage all pregnant woman to have an institutional/ trained
service providers for delivery
Introduce the concept of a birth plan on a second visit and reinforce
on follow up visits
Confirm the place of delivery and the provider with the provider
with the pregnant woman and family
Give information on how to recognize onset of labor and when to
seek assistance including danger signs in the pregnancy and labor
For institutional delivery:
Advise the pregnant woman and her husband/ family about when to go
to the hospital and take along the necessary things
4. Arrange to have a second person of the women’s own choice to be
present and give support during delivery
• If the delivery is anticipated at home in case of emergency:
Identify skilled birth attendant
Inform pregnant woman about material required for clean and safe
delivery
• Help her to identify her support people to take care of her children
and / her household
• Arrange transportation to go to the health facility for the birth
• Identification of compatible blood donor in case of emergency
• Funds for birth related and emergency expenses
6. Rationale of birth preparedness
The birth preparedness plan helps ensure that all arrangement for
clean and safe delivery, including the presence of skilled provider are
made in advance of estimated date of child birth as all women are at
risk of complication during child bearing cycle and most
complications cannot be predicted, the women and her family
members should be prepared to respond approximately in an
emergency. Such preparation can help prevent life threatening delays
to recognizing and responding to complications.
If the woman and her family are well prepared for normal child birth
as well as any possible maternal and newborn complications , women
is baby is more likely to receive the skilled and timely care needed to
preserve health and survival
7. Components of Birth Preparedness
Decision making in an emergency
Skilled attendant at birth
Supplies needed for clean delivery
Identify support people
Establish a financing plan for delivery
Saving cost for normal delivery
Blood donor
Transportation
8. 1. DECISION MAKING IN AN EMERGENCY
• Appropriate place of birth home or health care facility and referral.
• Depending on the woman’s condition the health worker may need
to recommend birth in specific level of health care facility.
• A facility should have staff, equipment, supplies and drugs available
to provide best care
2. SKILLEDATTENDANTAT BIRTH
• The health worker should discuss the need for SBA, if possible
someone trained to ensure that labor and delivery progress normally
and to manage complication if they arise
9. 3. SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR CLEAN DELIVERY
• The health worker should advice the needed items, clean, dry and
warm clothes for drying and wrapping the baby, sanitary pad, clean
clothes, soap, placenta receptacle, clean unused razor blade, water
proof plastic cover, clean cord ties, clothes for baby
4. IDENTIFY SUPPORT PEOPLE
• Includes who will accompany the woman and who will take care of
the family.
• The family needs to discuss and arrange following things in advance
A companion of the mother’s choice to support her during birth
Someone to care for the family and household in mother’s absence
10. How to make decisions if the main family decision maker is absent in an
emergency
How to access community resources and support
An appropriate blood donor who will be available in case of emergency
5. ESTABLISHA FINANCING PLAN FOR DELIVERY
• The health worker should discuss the need to have money available for
such things are
Saving cost for motherhood
Additional food far pregnant and postpartum mother
Medicine and treatment during pregnancy and postpartum period
Assistance by skilled health care provider during delivery and family
service
Transportation for health care facility
11. 6.SAVING COST FOR NORMAL DELIVERY
• Assist the woman in planning to have funds available when needed to pay
for care during normal birth or if danger signs arise
• Putting a side small amount of money in weekly basis
• Saving extra foods
• Extra work for income service
• Talk to reliable relatives for financial support
7.BLOOD DONOR
• Ensure that the women has identified an appropriate blood donor and that
this person will be available in case of emergency
8.TRANSPORTATION
Arrangement of transportation system for reaching health care facilities
12. Complication Readiness
A person or person designated to make decisions on her
behalf incase if she is unable to make them
A way to communicate with a source of help(SBA,
transportation, health facility)
Emergency fund
Emergency transportation
Blood donor