1. Mama,Do You
Love Me?
Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office

2. CLINIC PHONE NUMBER: HEALTH WORKER:
This small book contains all essential maternal, newborn, child health and nutrition facts, along with a very short narrative about a mother and her child. It is designed to be printed as a small booklet and given out to mothers, or to be used by mothers with the support of community health workers or health facility staff. It contains some blank fields to be filled out by mothers or those assisting them.
BABY NAME: BIRTH DATE:
CLINIC PHONE NUMBER: HEALTH WORKER:

3. “Mama, Mama! Do you love me?”
“Yes my child, of course I love you! I cared for you long before you had the strength to stand beside me, long before you joined our precious family.”

4. ANTENATAL CARE
Schedule at least 4 antenatal visits
Visit 1: as soon as she suspects she is pregnant Visit 2: between the 5th and 7th month
Visit 3: at the 8th month
Visit 4: during the last month
During antenatal care visits, both the baby and the mother’s health will be checked
Women will also be provided with a tetanus toxoid injection, iron tablets, and a deworming tablet Avoid alcohol and smoking at all times during pregnancy
Pregnancy danger signs include: bleeding, swelling of hands and face, fever or foul-smelling discharge from vagina, fits, convulsions or loss of consciousness
A birth preparedness plan can help ensure that delivery goes as smoothly as possible
Arrangements to have enough money for delivery
Arrangements to have enough money for emergencies
Arrangements for transportation to a health facility
Identification of the pregnant woman’s blood group
Identification of a health facility where skilled birth attendants are available
Identification of a person to accompany the pregnant woman during delivery
Avoid heavy workloads and have adequate rest
To prevent malaria, always sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets It is important for a pregnant woman to know her HIV status

5. “Did you know that I was coming, before I joined the family?”
“Not only did I know that you were coming, my child; your heart beat told us you were healthy and strong.
At the clinic, the doctor helped to keep you safe”

6. “Did the others know I would join you, too?”
“They all knew. Everyone took care of us — they wanted to meet you, too!
They were gentle with me, making sure that I ate well and kept safe, so that I could be strong for you.”

7. MATERNAL NUTRITION
During pregnancy, all women need a variety of nutritious food, as available in the local context. These include foods rich in Iron, Calcium, Vitamin A, Folate and Vitamin B12, such as:
Peas and beans
Grains
Green, red, yellow & orange vegetables and fruits
Milk
Eggs
Fish
Chicken
Meat
A pregnant woman should eat one extra meal a day during pregnancy in addition to regular meals.
A pregnant woman should take one extra hour of rest in a day.
A pregnant woman should take iron folate tablets during pregnancy and for at least three months after the baby’s birth to prevent neural tube defects in baby and replenish her body stores.
Pregnant women should receive tetanus immunisation to prevent neonatal tetanus.
Pregnant women should sleep under an insecticide-treated bed net to prevent malaria in pregnancy.
ELIMINATION OF MOTHER-TO-CHILD-TRANSMISSION: HIV TESTING & TREATMENT
It is important for a pregnant woman to know her HIV status.
A pregnant woman should go for voluntary counselling and testing for HIV to protect her health and the health of her baby.
The only way for a pregnant woman to know if she has HIV is to be tested for it. If she is HIV negative she can learn how to protect herself and her baby from getting HIV.
If a pregnant woman tests positive for HIV she needs to immediately begin antiretroviral therapy for her own health and to reduce the chances of her baby becoming infected with HIV.
Pregnant women should be accompanied by their husbands/partners during the ANC check-ups and for HIV counselling and treatment as much as possible.

8. “When you knew that you would meet me, how did you get ready?”
“We searched for the perfect place to welcome you. we were so eager to hear your
voice.
The day you came, we were so careful.
We wanted to receive you like royalty.”

9. Keep the newborn’s cord clean and dry to prevent infection
DELIVERY AND POSTNATAL CARE
Skilled birth attendants should conduct all child births Delivery danger signs include:
Excessive bleeding before and after delivery
Swelling of hands and face
Continuous labour for more than 12 hours
Fever or foul-smelling discharge from vagina
Fits, convulsions or loss of consciousness
Infant’s hand, foot, or cord coming out first
The newborn’s cord should be cut with a clean blade and tied with clean material
Keep the newborn’s cord clean and dry to prevent infection
Facility discharge of the mother and baby should be delayed for 24 hours
For home visits, mothers and babies should be visited by a skilled provider within 24 hours The mother and newborn should attend at least 4 postnatal care visits
Visit 1: within 24 hours of delivery Visit 2: within 3 days of delivery
Visit 3: between 7-14 days after delivery Visit 4: 6 weeks after delivery

10. NEWBORN CARE
Bathing of the newborn should be avoided for the first 24 hours Exclusively breastfeed newborns for at least 6 months
Breastfeeding (with colostrum) should be initiated within 1 hour of birth Eat two extra meals a day while breastfeeding.
Mothers who are HIV-positive should take anti-retroviral drugs to prevent transmission of HIV through breastmilk
The newborn should be dried with a clean, soft, and dry cloth
The newborn should be wrapped from head to toe with a dry cloth and kept warm along with the mother.
The newborn should be kept close to the mother’s body and be frequently held and cuddled by the parents and/or caregiver
Immunizations prevent many killer diseases
Parents and caregivers should consult health workers to receive their child’s full immunization schedule
Newborns should receive both the BCG and Polio vaccines
Spacing births through family planning and contraceptives can promote better child develop- ment and health

11. “What is the first thing you did when I arrived?”
“Immediately we wanted you to eat,
we wanted to keep you warm and close to us –
we wanted our love to be your shelter.”

12. “Was I strong?” “Yes, we made sure you were strong."
“We gave you every form of protection you might need."

13. To prevent malaria, mothers and newborns should always sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets
Newborns should be immediately taken to a health facility if the exhibit the following danger signs:
Unable to suck or breast feed
Lethargic or unconscious
Weak cry or absent cry
Cold hands and feet
Fast breathing or difficulty in breathing or severe chest indrawing
Umbilical discharge with redness extending to the surrounding skin
One abscess or more than 10 skin pustules on the newborn
Fever
Mother should be immediately taken to a health facility if they exhibit the following danger signs:
Heavy bleeding
Foul smelling discharge from vagina
Severe headache
Swollen hands and face
Hands should be washed with soap and water:
After dealing with infant waste
After going to the toilet/latrine
Before eating or preparing food
After dealing with rubbish
Before feeding children

14. CHILD HEALTH
Immunization protects children from many killer diseases
Know and follow the childhood vaccination schedule for the following vaccine-preventable diseases:
Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, Polio, Pneumococcal pneumonia, Rotavirus, Haemophilus influenzae type B, Cervical cancer, Measles and Rubella, Hepatitis B, Meningitis Yellow fever
Good nutrition for children is important for healthy development:
Children should receive vitamin A supplementation to reduce infection and boost immunity
Exclusively breastfeed up until 6 months. After 6 months, parents should start introducing other foods as well as breastfeeding until 2 years.
Mothers who are HIV positive should take anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) and exclusively breastfeed their babies for 6 months.
Examples of possible complimentary food:
Fruits and vegetables (for immunity)
Energy foods like posho, matooke or potatoes (for strength)
Proteins like meat, fish, beans (for growth)

15. “Was I healthy?" “Yes, we all kept you healthy"
"We fed you well with food and care."

16. “Were you happy with me?”
“We were happy to have you from the moment you were only a whisper of a thought, my child.
“Were you happy with me?”
And from that moment on, you taught us so much:
To prepare
To protect
To nurture
To teach
To love.”

17. At signs of serious illness, children should be taken to a health facility or health worker as soon as possible. Signs include:
Inability to eat or drink, vomiting all food, becoming sicker, extreme weakness, unconsciousness, convulsions
Learn, and watch for danger signs of Diarrhea, Malaria, Pneumonia and Tuberculosis in children
During early years of life, a baby’s brain is developing — everything they see, hear, touch and smell helps to shape their brain, whether or not they are old enough to respond
Children learn through being talked to, touched and cuddled, seeing and hearing familiar voices, handling different objects, having parents and caregivers talk, read and sing to them
Support from parents, caregivers, teachers and community members is very important
Encouraging children to play and explore helps them to develop socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually. This helps them to get ready for school
Entering primary school on time is important to ensuring the continuity of a child’s development All children develop in similar patterns, but each develops at their own speed/pace
Children are unique: they have their own interests, temperament, style of social interaction and approach to learning

18. NICKNAME:
FIRST STEPS:
FIRST WORD:
FAVOURITE FOOD: FAVOURITE GAME:

19. Picture of your child

20. THE END
Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office