Training of Roma Health Mediators in Reproductive Health

o Abdominal pain
o Weakness, tiredness, and pale skin
o Illness/bad general health status
o Swollen fingers, face and/or legs
o Pain, redness, swelling of the calves
o Water breaks and not in labour after 6 hours
• If any of the following emergencies arises, the woman should be taken to a
hospital immediately, day or night, because the lives of the mother and child
cannot be saved at home.
o Vaginal bleeding
o Convulsions
o Severe headaches with blurred vision
o Severe abdominal pain
o Fast or difficult breathing
o High fever and weakness
o Regular labor pains beginning more than 3 weeks before the baby is
expected
• An emergency:
o May occur any time suddenly without warning
o Is life threatening
o Requires urgent action
• The patient must be taken to a hospital without delay.
• If the pregnancy goes beyond 9 months (the baby is not born within 2 weeks after
the full 9 months of pregnancy), the woman should go to her doctor.
VII. PREPARATIONS FOR DELIVERY (60 minutes)
Explain that:
• One of the most frequent questions during a pregnancy is “When is the baby due?”
• Usually a normal pregnancy last 9 months or 40 weeks, counted from the first day of
the last period. After 38 weeks of pregnancy, the birth may come at any time.
• A woman can calculate the probable date of birth by adding 7 days to the last period,
and then adding 9 months. Example: if a woman had her last period on January 22,
she adds 7 days, which means January 29; then she counts 9 months and finds that her
likely date for delivery is October 29.
Emphasize that this date is an estimation, not a certain or fixed date.
Ask participants:
‣ How would someone know that the end of pregnancy is near?
A few days before labor begins, usually the baby moves lower in the womb. This lets
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RFHI/JSI Romania Training of RHMs in Reproductive Health Session 6: Pregnancy