by Brian Murove & Ratidzo Njagu
The loss of a baby at any stage remains a sad reality for many families and takes a serious toll on families’ health and well-being.
A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a woman's pregnancy before the 20th week, a stillbirth is a loss after 20 weeks but before birth. Both miscarriage and stillbirth describe pregnancy loss but they differ according to when the loss occurs. On the other hand neonatal death occurs within the first 28 days of life. These deaths account for approximately 7% of the global burden of disease, which is higher than that of HIV/AIDS. Low and middle-income countries bear 98% of the burden with sub- Saharan Africa reporting the highest burden globally. In sub-Saharan Africa most under-fives deaths (45%) occur within the first month of life (the neonatal period) .
According to UNICEF Zimbabwe’s neonatal mortality rate (NMR)^ is 26 deaths per 1,000 live births. NMR in rural areas is 32 deaths per 1,000 live births. This article is mainly focused on some ways to reduce neonatal deaths in our families.
Healthcare
It's important not to miss any of your antenatal appointments as this is the primary source of information for expecting mothers. Some of the tests and measurements that can identify potential problems are carried out at this stage. Going to all your appointments will also mean your midwife can give you relevant information as your pregnancy progresses. Good antenatal detection, combined with careful management and good nutrition, improve the baby’s chances of being born healthy.
Sleep on your side in the last trimester
The position pregnant women sleep in has recently emerged as an important risk factor due to impact on blood flow and stress to the baby. It’s recommended that women after 28 weeks of pregnancy sleep on their side .
Managing Complications
The risk of complications must be carefully managed by pregnant women. Women considered higher-risk groups should be more closely monitored. This includes women who:
are older than 35 years
smoke are overweight or obese
have pre-existing conditions
have had a previous loss
The majority of neonatal deaths are preventable with essential maternal information and healthcare. For more information contact the Kunashe Foundation- we stand to see women and children thrive in life.
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