Normal Life in Pregnancy- Working During Pregnancy
Normal working life can go on during pregnancy, until the later stages when the expectant
mother can proceed on maternity leave. It is advisable to modify the way you work in order to
make things more comfortable, for instance by sitting instead of standing, or getting a more
comfortable chair with your back supported by cushions.^4 If you are unwell during pregnancy or
there are complications, your doctor should give you an excuse duty form.
- Normal Antenatal Care
Antenatal care is a very important aspect of pregnancy.^5 Pregnancy is a rather complex process
during which problems could arise at any point in time.
Antenatal care is therefore very important for both mother and baby for the following reasons:
(a) Routine monitoring of your weight, blood pressure, blood cell indices
(haemoglobin, white cell count, etc).
(b) Medical examinations such as ultrasound scan, glucose tolerance test, and sickling
test are carried out to assess the well-being of the baby and to detect risk factors
such as diabetes and sickle cell disease.
(c) Certain complications of pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia (increased blood
pressure during pregnancy which could lead to convulsions) could be detected
during antenatal care.
(d) Counselling in the hospital setting is carried out by nurses. This offers you the
opportunity to understand pregnancy-related issues such as general care of the
body, breastfeeding, nutrition and other health topics.
A minimum of nine visits to the antenatal clinic is considered adequate. This normally starts
around the third month when basic tests are done. Monthly visits are carried out until the 36th
week and subsequently every week until labour.^6
Notes- E. A. Badoe and S. K. Owusu ed., Health and Disease,: A Layman’s Guide to Good
Health(Accra, Ghana: University of Ghana Medical School, 2004),154 - 155. - P. V. Dilts, J. W Greene and J. W. Roddick, Gynecology(London: Williams and Wilkins,
1981), 78; Derek LLewellyn -Jones, Fundamentals of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (London:
Faber and Faber Ltd.,1 982), 96; Geoffrey Chamberlain and John Dewhurst, Obstetrics and
Gynecology(London: Pitman Pub., 1984), 12 - 13. - Derek Llewellyn Jones, Everywoman(Lagos, Nigeria: Academy Press Plc., 1994), 198.
4.. Garrey, Govan, Hodge and Callander, Obstetrics Illustrated (Edinburgh: Churchill
Livingstone, 1980), 94 - 96; T. L.T. Lewis and G. V. P. Chamberlain, Obstetrics by Ten Teachers
(London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1990), 43 - 44. - E. A. Badoe and S.K. Owusu ed., Health and Disease: A Layman’s Guide to Good Health
(Accra, Ghana: University of Ghana Medical School, 2004), 148 - 52.. - Stuart Campbell and Christoph Lees eds., Obstetrics by Ten Teachers(London: ELBS). 87 - 95.