Prenatal Basics for Home Visitors



This module is a basic overview of the prenatal period, from conception through labor and delivery. Family support professionals will learn answers to common questions and ways to support mothers to have a healthy pregnancy. The module includes information about lifestyle issues that may impact the health of the mother and her fetus. It includes prenatal care guidelines, nutrition information, ways to promote prenatal bonding and information about preterm birth and labor and delivery. The module describes the family support professional's role and appropriate boundaries while working with pregnant women.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Give an overview of the prenatal period from conception through labor and delivery
  2. Provide answers to common questions a pregnant woman might ask 
  3. Discuss lifestyle issues that may impact the health of the mother and fetus
  4. Describe prenatal care guidelines, nutrition information and ways to promote prenatal bonding
  5. Define preterm, full term, late term and post term deliveries
  6. Discuss the risks of preterm births, the signs of preterm labor and actions mothers should take if they experience signs of early labor

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Supplemental Materials
Estimated Time to Complete
45 minutes
Skills Addressed
Infant and Early Childhood Development Family Health, Safety, and Nutrition Prenatal development Fetal Development Maternal health Prenatal care Prenatal nutrition Pregnancy risk factors Contraception Community Resources and Support Service system coordination and referral Referral process Relationship-based Family Partnerships Cultural competency Role of the home visitor

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