Nursing Global Conference

Maternal-foetal medicine (MFM) is a specialty concerning the management of high-risk pregnancies and the health of both mother and foetus during pregnancy. Nursing professions are an essential part of this area because of careful, planned monitoring and management of maternal and foetal care throughout the pregnancy. These standards outline basic responsibilities of the nurses while working in maternal-foetal medicine.

1. The Role of the Nurse in Maternal-Foetal Medicine: During maternal-foetal medicine, nurses offer patient care to women with complicated and high-risk pregnancies. Their roles include a holistic pre-natal care that can lead to the detection of any diagnostic test required, both to the mother and foetus for signs of stress or complications. Nurses thus play a significant role in communicating the case between the patient and the other healthcare providers, which include obstetricians, perinatologists, and neonatologists.

2. Prenatal assessment and monitoring: One of the direct responsibilities of nurses practicing in MFM includes assessment of prenatal care to monitor and assess the health of both the mother and the fetus. Among these, checking a number of vital signs and tracking development of the fetus by undergoing ultrasounds tests or any other preordained tests for detection of any risk in advance is included. In addition, nurses must advise the pregnant women on good nutrition, adherence to medication, and even control of pre-existing medical conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes.

3. Care of Women with High-Risk Pregnancies In high-risk pregnancies, the nursing professional plays a vital role in the care team. The nurse monitors for complications like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm labor. For a high-risk pregnancy, mother anxiety and fear often stem from its complexity, on which nursing professionals provide emotional support and education. Nurses assist in developing plans of care and support patients in following treatment recommendations to reduce the risk.

4. Support During Labour and Delivery: The MFM nurse is very active in monitoring the mother and the foetus in the delivery process. Most of the work is done by nurses in collaboration with obstetricians to ensure a very safe time of delivery, especially in cases of high-risk ones. Nurses would assist in pain management, foetal monitoring, and ensuring preparation for emergency interventions where applicable.

5. Postnatal Care and Follow Up: Nurses also provide much needed postnatal care to the mother and baby, especially if the fetus might require special care through medication. She helps the new mother with education on breastfeeding, recovery postpartum, and monitoring any complications that may arise postdelivery.

By following these guidelines, nursing professionals in maternal-foetal medicine contribute to the care of mother and child, playing an essential role in maintaining health and safety throughout potentially positive outcomes in a high-risk pregnancy.