May 5 is celebrated annually as World Midwives' Day. Experts emphasize that midwifery is a very important profession in the detection and monitoring of preventable maternal and newborn deaths, stating that, according to estimates, a mother and baby die every 11 seconds worldwide due to preventable deaths. Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery Deputy Head, Dr. Ayça Demir Yıldırım, said, "Preventable maternal and infant mortality is unacceptable in any way and is one of the top priorities within the sustainable development goals. To prevent maternal and newborn deaths, which are indicators of a country's development, early diagnosis of risks in pregnant women during the prenatal period, taking necessary precautions, and administering treatments are vital."
Mother and infant deaths can be prevented by detecting risks during pregnancy
Within the scope of May 5 World Midwives' Day, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery Deputy Head, Dr. Ayça Demir Yıldırım, drew attention to midwifery services and their importance in the world and Turkey, provided information about healthy and high-risk pregnancies, and stated that preventable maternal and infant deaths are an indicator of countries' welfare levels.
Pregnancies are classified as low, moderate, and high risk
Dr. Yıldırım, speaking about the stages of diagnosing high-risk and healthy pregnancies, defined: “Pregnancy brings new beginnings, hope, and excitement for a family. Although the prenatal period goes smoothly for many women, it also carries risks for some expectant mothers. This situation is evaluated as a high-risk pregnancy. Pregnancies are classified as low, moderate, and high risk. All pregnancies diagnosed are in the low-risk group. Deviations from normal in pregnancy follow-ups, when they need to be monitored and can be controlled, are considered moderate, while deviations that threaten the life of the mother and fetus fall into the high-risk pregnancy group.”
Mother and infant deaths can be prevented by detecting risks during pregnancy
Dr. Yıldırım stated that preventable maternal and newborn deaths are caused by the failure to detect risks during pregnancy: “According to estimates, 2.8 million pregnant women and newborns die worldwide due to preventable deaths; that is, one death occurs every 11 seconds. Preventable maternal and infant mortality is unacceptable in any way and is one of the top priorities within the sustainable development goals.”
Risk factors that emerge during pregnancy are very diverse
Dr. Ayça Demir Yıldırım, stating that age is the first risk factor that emerges at the beginning of pregnancy, added that under 18 or over 35 years of age are risky periods, listing other factors as follows: “Excessive weight or underweight, smoking-alcohol use, frequent pregnancies, consanguineous marriage, cesarean section... Subsequently, pre-existing diseases in the expectant mother (such as hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases, thyroid, epilepsy, asthma) also pose risks. Risks that arise during pregnancy follow-ups include bleeding, multiple pregnancies, rupture of membranes, threat of premature birth, threat of miscarriage, placental anomalies, pregnancy-induced hypertension (pre-eclampsia), or sugar (gestational diabetes). Along with the risks brought by pregnancy, environmental factors also create risks during pregnancy. In recent years, the Covid-19 pandemic has also been a risk factor for pregnant women.”
“It is the duty of midwives to protect the health of mother and baby in high-risk pregnancy situations”
Dr. Yıldırım, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis in preventing high-risk pregnancies, described the significant duties of midwives with these words:
“To prevent maternal and newborn deaths, which are indicators of a country's development, early diagnosis of risks in pregnant women during the prenatal period, taking necessary precautions, and administering treatments are vital. High-risk situations in pregnancy must be controlled without threatening the health and life of the mother and baby. Midwives have important duties here. It is the duty and responsibility of midwives to protect the health of the mother and baby by diagnosing risks in pregnancy at the earliest stage and taking precautions.”
After the risk assessment by the midwife, the frequency of the pregnant woman's follow-ups is increased
Emphasizing that every pregnant woman must be followed by a midwife to determine their risks, Dr. Ayça Demir Yıldırım said: “All pregnancies are evaluated for the presence of risk factors or whether they may develop in the future. After the risk assessment by the midwife, the frequency of the pregnant woman's follow-ups is increased, and regular follow-ups are carried out in cooperation with an obstetrician. Risk assessment is dynamically performed by midwives for pregnant women, and danger signs are reiterated at each follow-up. In situations such as bleeding, fever, rising blood pressure, severe headache, shortness of breath, blurred vision, foul-smelling discharge, onset of contractions in early weeks, and/or rupture of membranes during pregnancy, it is necessary to urgently contact the midwife or apply to a midwife, obstetrician, or a healthcare institution.” said.
Every pregnant woman should meet their midwife and start their follow-ups
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery Deputy Head, Dr. Ayça Demir Yıldırım, concluded her words by providing the following information:
“The Ministry of Health has published the ‘High-Risk Pregnancy Regulation’ for the management of risks that may arise during the prenatal period, birth, and postnatal period, and according to this guideline, midwives perform the follow-ups of pregnant women in the clinic. Every pregnant woman should meet her midwife and start these follow-ups. In this way, healthy mothers and healthy new generations will be achieved.”