Breast milk contains nutrients that are essential for keeping infants healthy and free from disease.

WOMEN who are planning to bear children must understand the importance of staying healthy so that they are better able to fulfil their roles as mothers, say health care professionals.

A woman who remains healthy throughout her childhood and adult life will be better able to deliver healthy children when she gives birth, said Dr San San Myint, who works in the neonatology unit of the Yangon Central Women’s Hospital.

“Most women think that they have to take care of themselves only when they are pregnant, but those who will become mothers one day should be aware of their health even when they are young,” she said.

She said that women should begin reading about childbearing and pregnancy when they are young so they can apply the knowledge they gain when it comes time for them to have children of their own.

“A healthy single woman will become a healthy married woman, and a healthy married woman will deliver a healthy child, who if raised properly will grow into a healthy adult,” said Dr San San Myint.

“It is the cycle of life,” she said.

When a woman plans to have a baby she should undergo medical checks to determine whether she has any diseases that can affect the birth.

“There is a high risk involved in birth for women who have suffered from anaemia (a shortage of red cells or haemoglobin in the blood) or who have been infected with HIV, both of which can be passed on from the mother to the child,” said Dr San San Myint.

It is also important to seek help from trained midwives or doctors to ensure that the baby is safely delivered, she said.

“Many women prefer home delivery, but it should occur in a comfortable atmosphere and a clean space so the woman in labour feels more at ease and more in control of the birth process,” she said.

Dr San San Myint said the Ministry of Health is promoting the inclusion of birthing rooms in rural health centres to encourage safe and clean deliveries.

She also urged women to consult with doctors and medical staff early in their pregnancies, as such trained experts can encourage them to actively participate in health care decisions, teach them how to care for themselves through proper nutrition and exercise, and help them retain greater control over their pregnancies and birth experiences.

“Pregnant women should see doctors or medical staff at least three times before their delivery,” she said.

Knowledge of how to care for a child following birth is also essential.

“Bad habits like holding a baby without washing your hands or wiping a baby with an unclean cloth can lead to infection or, at the very worst, even cause the baby to die,” said Dr San San Myint.

She also emphasised the importance of breastfeeding.

“As soon as the baby is born it should be fed breast milk, which contains essential nutrients for the baby and can help prevent infectious diseases,” she said.

Mothers also need to keep up their own intake of essential nutrients following birth.

“Many mothers do not eat enough food or enough variety because they are busy worrying about their newborn child, but it is important for them to get the proper nutrients so they can pass them on to their child,” Dr San San Myint said.

She also said that women must be educated about the concept of birth spacing, advising that at least two years should pass between the births of the first and second child.

“If births are not spaced properly, children may suffer from serious nutrient deficiencies because mother cannot supply enough of her own nutrients to keep both children healthy,” she said.

She said that ultimately the responsibility of delivering a healthy child lies with the mother, so women who are planning to give birth should strive to educate themselves by reading as many health education books as possible.

“Health education books can help women acquire knowledge about what to eat, how to take care of their personal hygiene, how to keep their environment sanitary and so on, all of which will help them create a better, healthier life for themselves and for their children,” said Dr San San Myint.