World Vision conducted a health awareness programme for pregnant women here on Thursday to mark the World Breastfeeding Week beginning August 1.
D. Manimekalai, Project Officer of Integrated Child Development Services, spoke of the kind of food pregnant women must consume. She asked them to register at an Angandwadi centre.
Meals“Pregnant women must have five to six meals a day and have a balanced diet with high iron content. On no account should they take any kind of medicines without consulting a doctor. While avoiding heavy work, they must, however, have some physical activity.”
The husband and family members must undergo counselling. Any stress can affect the baby and care must be taken to keep the pregnant women in good spirits.
Also, it was imperative that the delivery was done only at a hospital or PHC, she added.
M. Meenakumari, a gynaecologist, spoke on the importance of immunisation. She advised the pregnant women to keep away from those who smoked as passive smoking can affect the growth of the child, as can alcohol.
Breast feedingK. Vetriselvan John, Programme Manager (Coimbatore), World Vision, said that awareness meetings were being held for pregnant women and lactating mothers to highlight the importance of breast feeding.
Around 100 pregnant women and lactating mothers attended the programme.