Essentials of Maternity, Newborn, and Women’s Health Nursing Maternal Adaptation during Pregnancy

Essentials of Maternity, Newborn, and Women’s Health Nursing Maternal Adaptation during Pregnancy

“women’s health needs to be front and center it often isn’t, but it needs to be.” Cynthia Nixon. Maternity, newborn, and women’s health nursing is a unique nursing field focusing on women’s care all over their reproduction time. This nursing field demands a thorough comprehension of the specific physical, emotional, and social requirements for women and infants. Nurses working in the area must provide sympathetic care to women during labor and delivery, handle any complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and the nurse should provide education and support to new mothers (Perry et al., 2022). Nurses in this area play a significant role as they promote the health of women by averting illness through education and preventive care. This essay explores a case study of Beth, who is 18 years old and experiencing her first pregnancy at 24 weeks of gestation. This essay will explain the general body adaptations Beth is likely to experience throughout the remaining time of her pregnancy and the psychosocial adaptations Beth may experience due to her being a teenage single mother living at home.

General Body Adaptation to be Experienced by Beth during her Pregnancy Period

Pregnancy is a period of profound hormonal and metabolic changes endorsed by the body for a relatively short period where changes may occur in the skin, nails, and hair. For Beth’s case being her first pregnancy, it would be essential to congratulate her on her pregnancy and the fact that she is amazed by the changes that have been taking place in her body. It would also be essential to inform her that even as she progresses with her pregnancy, her body will still undergo crucial adaptations to facilitate her baby’s growth and development. Some of the adaptations Beth would experience during her pregnancy period include her uterus wall continuing to expand as her baby grows, causing her belly to get even bigger, and she starts feeling her baby moving around as they continue developing and being active (Murray & Hendley, 2020). As Beth’s pregnancy continues, she may experience pain in her back, hips, and pelvis due to the additional weight she will carry, as is normal during pregnancy, but exercises and other approaches would be essential to reduce the twinge.

Beth’s body will process more blood and fluid to sustain her developing baby, and it can cause bulging in her hands, feet, and face, and she may also experience shortness of breath or fatigue, and her hormone level will also progress to change, leading to mood swings, changes in appetite, and also changes in her skin and hair. Her skin may become more sensitive and prone to breakouts, and her hair may become thicker and more lustrous (Musaei, 2022). As Beth nears the end of her pregnancy, her body will start preparing for labor and delivery, where she may experience contractions as her cervix starts to soften and open, losing her mucus plug, and these signs indicate that her body is preparing for delivery. Beth needs to understand that pregnancy is different, and everyone has their own experiences which are not similar. Beth would be advocated to visit her healthcare provider in case of any questions or concerns on the changes she may be experiencing as they can provide advice and support, enabling her to have a healthy and happy pregnancy.