[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/) › Maternal and child nursing

# Maternal and child nursing

Prenatal care, labour and postpartum, the newborn, breastfeeding, growth and vaccination with the PAI.

49 pages

## Safe practice

- [**Abortion care in Colombia from the nursing side: rights and routes, care during and after, and post-abortion contraception** In Colombia, abortion care (IVE) is urgent care: the nurse informs, protects privacy, watches…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/abortion-care-in-colombia-from-the-nursing-side-rights-and-routes-care-during-an/)
- [**Caesarean birth: preparing the woman, the newborn in theatre and postoperative care** Before a caesarean the nurse prepares the woman and theatre; after it she checks vital signs…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/caesarean-birth-preparing-the-woman-the-newborn-in-theatre-and-postoperative-car/)
- [**Caring for the preterm and low-birth-weight newborn: developmental care, feeding, skin and pain** Preterm babies need warmth, their mother's milk, kangaroo contact, calm surroundings, pain…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/caring-for-the-preterm-and-low-birth-weight-newborn-developmental-care-feeding-s/)
- [**Contraception counselling: the methods, eligibility in general terms, LARC and after birth or abortion** The nurse explains every eligible method without leaving any out, helps the person choose freely…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/contraception-counselling-the-methods-eligibility-in-general-terms-larc-and-afte/)
- [**Diabetes in pregnancy: screening tests, glucose self-monitoring, education and the birth** The nurse makes sure the glucose test is done, teaches the woman to check and record her…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/diabetes-in-pregnancy-screening-tests-glucose-self-monitoring-education-and-the/)
- [**Giving vaccines safely and Colombia's PAI schedule** Before vaccinating, check the card and the true contraindications; then give it safely, observe…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/giving-vaccines-safely-and-colombia-s-pai-schedule/)
- [**Induction and augmentation of labour: the oxytocin infusion and how to watch for tachysystole** Oxytocin is a high-alert drug](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/induction-and-augmentation-of-labour-the-oxytocin-infusion-and-how-to-watch-for/)
- [**Kangaroo mother care** Kangaroo care places the preterm or low-birth-weight baby skin to skin on the mother's chest…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/kangaroo-mother-care/)
- [**Keeping the newborn warm: the warm chain, incubators and radiant warmers, hypothermia and overheating** Newborns lose heat fast](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/keeping-the-newborn-warm-the-warm-chain-incubators-and-radiant-warmers-hypotherm/)
- [**Menopause: symptoms, self-care, bone and heart health, and what to teach about hormone therapy** The nurse asks about menopause symptoms, teaches self-care for sleep, bones and heart, and helps…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/menopause-symptoms-self-care-bone-and-heart-health-and-what-to-teach-about-hormo/)
- [**Newborn hypoglycaemia: who is at risk, heel-prick glucose and early feeding** Babies at risk of low blood sugar are fed early and often, kept warm, and have heel-prick checks…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/newborn-hypoglycaemia-who-is-at-risk-heel-prick-glucose-and-early-feeding/)
- [**Newborn screening in Colombia: heel-prick metabolic tests, hearing, pulse oximetry and the red reflex (Ley 1980 de 2019)** Every newborn in Colombia has the right to free metabolic, hearing, visual and heart screening…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/newborn-screening-in-colombia-heel-prick-metabolic-tests-hearing-pulse-oximetry/)
- [**Obstetric emergencies: cord prolapse, shoulder dystocia and maternal collapse; what the nurse does first** In a cord prolapse, shoulder dystocia or maternal collapse, the nurse first shouts for help…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/obstetric-emergencies-cord-prolapse-shoulder-dystocia-and-maternal-collapse-what/)
- [**Pain relief in labour: support, non-drug methods and the nursing checks for neuraxial analgesia** Every woman has the right to effective pain relief in labour](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/pain-relief-in-labour-support-non-drug-methods-and-the-nursing-checks-for-neurax/)
- [**Postpartum discharge: self-care, warning signs, contraception and the follow-up visit** Before going home, the woman learns the warning signs, how to care for herself and the baby…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/postpartum-discharge-self-care-warning-signs-contraception-and-the-follow-up-vis/)
- [**Postpartum haemorrhage: prevention in the third stage, estimating blood loss, fundal massage and Colombia's Código Rojo** Postpartum bleeding is a leading cause of maternal death](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/postpartum-haemorrhage-prevention-in-the-third-stage-estimating-blood-loss-funda/)
- [**Preconception care: risk review, family history, supplements, vaccines and planning a pregnancy** Before a planned pregnancy the nurse reviews risks, family history, habits, vaccines and tests…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/preconception-care-risk-review-family-history-supplements-vaccines-and-planning/)
- [**Preeclampsia and eclampsia: monitoring, magnesium sulphate checks, care during a seizure and warning signs** In preeclampsia the nurse measures blood pressure well, watches for signs of severity and…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/preeclampsia-and-eclampsia-monitoring-magnesium-sulphate-checks-care-during-a-se/)
- [**Prenatal education: nutrition and weight gain, common discomforts, healthy habits and the preparation course for birth and parenthood** The nurse teaches the woman and her family to eat well, gain weight, move, ease common…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/prenatal-education-nutrition-and-weight-gain-common-discomforts-healthy-habits-a/)
- [**Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and Chagas (ETMI-plus): tests, timing and follow-up** The nurse makes sure every pregnant woman is tested for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, and…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/preventing-mother-to-child-transmission-of-hiv-syphilis-hepatitis-b-and-chagas-t/)
- [**Screening in women's health: cervical cancer, breast cancer and the Res. 3280 schedule** In Colombia, nurses screen women for cervical cancer by age and place of residence, examine the…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/screening-in-women-s-health-cervical-cancer-breast-cancer-and-the-res-3280-sched/)
- [**Sexual violence: the nurse's role in Colombia's care protocol (first contact, urgency, prophylaxis and evidence)** Sexual violence is a medical emergency: the nurse receives the person at once, protects her…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/sexual-violence-the-nurse-s-role-in-colombia-s-care-protocol/)
- [**STI counselling: risk reduction, testing, partner notification and condom teaching** The nurse takes a respectful sexual history, offers testing, teaches correct condom use and…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/sti-counselling-risk-reduction-testing-partner-notification-and-condom-teaching/)
- [**The newborn at home: cord care, bathing, safe sleep, feeding cues and the warning signs** Before discharge the nurse teaches cord care, bathing, feeding, stools, sleep and the danger…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/the-newborn-at-home-cord-care-bathing-safe-sleep-feeding-cues-and-the-warning-si/)
- [**Threatened preterm labour and ruptured membranes: assessment, the treatments to monitor and transfer** Before 37 weeks, the nurse counts contractions, avoids vaginal exams if the waters broke…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/threatened-preterm-labour-and-ruptured-membranes-assessment-the-treatments-to-mo/)

## Assessment

- [**Bleeding in pregnancy: early (miscarriage, ectopic, molar) and late (previa, abruption) from the nursing side** Any vaginal bleeding in pregnancy is treated as a possible emergency: the nurse assesses the…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/bleeding-in-pregnancy-early-and-late-from-the-nursing-side/)
- [**Fetal heart monitoring in labour: intermittent auscultation, CTG in general terms and intrauterine resuscitation** In a healthy labour the fetal heart is checked at set times with a Doppler or Pinard](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/fetal-heart-monitoring-in-labour-intermittent-auscultation-ctg-in-general-terms/)
- [**Growth and development monitoring in children** At each visit, weight, length or height and head circumference are measured, plotted on WHO…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/growth-and-development-monitoring-in-children/)
- [**Infection after birth: endometritis, wound, breast and urinary infection; signs and nursing care** Fever after the first day postpartum needs a search for its source: uterus, wound, breasts…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/infection-after-birth-endometritis-wound-breast-and-urinary-infection-signs-and/)
- [**Neonatal sepsis: risk factors, early signs and nursing care** Neonatal sepsis starts with vague signs](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/neonatal-sepsis-risk-factors-early-signs-and-nursing-care/)
- [**Obstetric early warning scores in pregnancy and postpartum, and when to escalate** The obstetric warning score adds points for abnormal vital signs; the total tells the nurse how…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/obstetric-early-warning-scores-in-pregnancy-and-postpartum-and-when-to-escalate/)
- [**Perinatal mental health: screening, baby blues, depression and psychosis, and when to call** About 1 in 5 women has a mental health problem in pregnancy or the year after birth](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/perinatal-mental-health-screening-baby-blues-depression-and-psychosis-and-when-t/)
- [**Prenatal risk assessment: obstetric and biopsychosocial risk, and when the nurse refers** At every prenatal visit the nurse looks for biological and psychosocial risk, reclassifies the…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/prenatal-risk-assessment-obstetric-and-biopsychosocial-risk-and-when-the-nurse-r/)
- [**Respiratory distress in the newborn: signs, the Silverman–Andersen score and oxygen care** The nurse spots the signs of hard breathing, scores them, measures saturation and gives oxygen…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/respiratory-distress-in-the-newborn-signs-the-silverman-andersen-score-and-oxyge/)
- [**The newborn examination: head to toe, normal findings, gestational age and weight classification** The nurse measures the newborn, examines it head to toe, classifies it by gestational age and…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/the-newborn-examination-head-to-toe-normal-findings-gestational-age-and-weight-c/)
- [**The postpartum assessment: uterus, lochia, perineum, breasts, bladder, legs, mood and bonding** After birth the nurse checks, in order, vital signs, the uterus, bleeding, perineum, breasts…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/the-postpartum-assessment-uterus-lochia-perineum-breasts-bladder-legs-mood-and-b/)
- [**The prenatal check: fundal height, Leopold manoeuvres, fetal heart, fetal movements and antenatal fetal tests** At each visit the nurse measures the uterus, finds the baby's position, listens to its heart…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/the-prenatal-check-fundal-height-leopold-manoeuvres-fetal-heart-fetal-movements/)

## Fundamental

- [**Breastfeeding support: latch, positions and common problems** WHO and UNICEF recommend starting in the first hour, exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months and…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/breastfeeding-support-latch-positions-and-common-problems/)
- [**Labour and postpartum nursing: monitoring and warning signs** In labour, mother and fetus are monitored on the partograph; in the first 2 postpartum hours…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/labour-and-postpartum-nursing-monitoring-and-warning-signs/)
- [**Prenatal care: the nursing visit and warning signs** Prenatal care starts before week 10, follows the pregnant woman month by month and teaches the…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/prenatal-care-the-nursing-visit-and-warning-signs/)
- [**The four stages of labour from the nursing side: the partograph and the WHO Labour Care Guide** Labour has four stages](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/the-four-stages-of-labour-from-the-nursing-side-the-partograph-and-the-who-labou/)

## Law

- [**Colombia's maternal–perinatal care route (Res. 3280 de 2018) from the nursing side** Res](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/colombia-s-maternal-perinatal-care-route-from-the-nursing-side/)
- [**Ley 2244 de 2022: dignified, respected and humanised pregnancy, birth and postpartum** Ley 2244 de 2022 lists the rights of women in pregnancy, labour, birth, postpartum and pregnancy…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/ley-2244-de-2022-dignified-respected-and-humanised-pregnancy-birth-and-postpartu/)

## Procedure

- [**Expressing and storing breast milk, human milk banks, and safe formula preparation when it is needed** The nurse teaches hand expression, safe storage and thawing of breast milk, explains milk banks…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/expressing-and-storing-breast-milk-human-milk-banks-and-safe-formula-preparation/)
- [**Immediate care of the newborn** Dry, place skin to skin, clamp the cord without hurry, score the Apgar, identify, give the…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/immediate-care-of-the-newborn/)
- [**Neonatal resuscitation from the nursing side: preparing, the golden minute and assisting** Most newborns breathe alone](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/neonatal-resuscitation-from-the-nursing-side-preparing-the-golden-minute-and-ass/)
- [**Newborn jaundice: visual assessment, bilirubin checks and phototherapy care** The nurse looks for jaundice every day, has it measured when seen, and cares for the baby under…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/newborn-jaundice-visual-assessment-bilirubin-checks-and-phototherapy-care/)
- [**Taking a cervical cytology or HPV sample and assisting the pelvic examination** The nurse prepares the woman, places the speculum, takes cells from the cervix for cytology or…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/taking-a-cervical-cytology-or-hpv-sample-and-assisting-the-pelvic-examination/)

## Calculation

- [**Obstetric calculations: gestational age, estimated date of birth, gravidity and parity** Gestational age and the estimated date of birth come from the first day of the last period; the…](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/obstetric-calculations-gestational-age-estimated-date-of-birth-gravidity-and-par/)

## A to Z

- [A](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/a/)
- [B](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/b/)
- [C](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/c/)
- [D](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/d/)
- [E](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/e/)
- [F](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/f/)
- [G](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/g/)
- [H](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/h/)
- [I](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/i/)
- [J](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/j/)
- [K](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/k/)
- [L](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/l/)
- [M](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/m/)
- [N](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/n/)
- [O](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/o/)
- [P](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/p/)
- [Q](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/q/)
- [R](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/r/)
- [S](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/s/)
- [T](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/t/)
- [U](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/u/)
- [V](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/v/)
- [W](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/w/)
- [Y](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/a-z/y/)

[← Nursing: fundamentals and procedures](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/)

Educational content for students; it does not replace your institution's protocols, supervised clinical training or a prescriber's order. Dose-calculation examples use made-up numbers: they are educational, not a clinical order.

Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/nursing/areas/maternal-child/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/nursing/areas/maternal-child/