introduction definition minor ailment and its management

1. MANAGEMENT OF AILMENT

2. Enlist of minor ailments of
Puerperuim
• After Pain on the perineum
• Breast engorgement
• Postnatal diuresis
• Constipation
• lactation supression

6. SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
1. Severe , sharp perineal pain
2. Swelling in the perineal area
3. Appearance of a tense sensitive mass of varying
size covered by discoloured skin
4. Complaints of fullness or pressure in the vagina

7. MEDICAL TREATMENTS
• This is consists of analgesics given for
discomfort ,opening the haematoma so blood
clots can be evacuated and the bleeders can
be ligated.

8. Nursing Interventions
 To reduce the swelling Apply Ice packs Wrap the ice pack in
a washcloth or other soft or absorbent material. Do not
directly apply the ice.
 Sitz bath Encourage the mother to sit in a tub with 2-3
inches of warm water for about 15 minutes.
 Care of Perineal stitches Clean and dress the perineal area
daily and cover with sterile pad.
 Advice the mother to use topical anaesthetic spray or
ointment according to the prescription.

9. BREAST ENGORGEMENT
• May occur about the third day
postpartum and is often
regarded by mothers as the
result of the milk coming in.
• It is due to exaggerated normal
venous and lymphatic
engorgement of the breasts
which precedes lactation.
• The mother approaches with
pain and tense feeling of the
breasts, generalized malaise
and painful breast feeding.

10. MANAGEMENT
• Encourage the mother to consume lots of fluids.
• Support the breasts with a binder or brassiere.
• Apply hot bags on breast before nursing and ice
bags after.
• Express the milk manually. The baby should be
put to breast regularly after the expression of
milk.
• Analgesics may also be prescribed to relieve pain

11. DIURESIS
• Within 12hrs of the birth the women begins to
lose excess tissue fluid accumulated during
pregnancy.
• The profuse diaphoresis occurs especially at
night for the first 2-3 days after childbirth.

12. MANAGEMENT
• Keep the mother clean and dry
• Change her dress and bed sheets frequently
• Care must be taken to ensure that the mother
is well hydrated

13. CONSTIPATION
• The problem is much less because of early
ambulation and dietary intake.
• Encourage the mother to take a diet
containing sufficient amount of roughage and
fluids is enough to move the bowel.
• If necessary mild laxative such as Isvgol 2 tea
spoons may be advised at bed time.

14. LACTATION SUPRESSION
• This is necessary when the women has decided
not to breast feed or in case of neonatal death.
MANAGEMENT
Advice the mother to wear well fitted supportive
brassier or breast binder continuously at least the
first 72 hrs.
after giving birth avoid breast stimulation. Eg:
Running warm water over the breasts, newborn
sucking or pumping of the breasts
Bromocriptine was often prescribed in olden
days. But recent days it is not practiced much as it
causes the seizures, strokes and MI

15. CHECK-UP AND ADVICE ON
DISCHARGE
• A thorough check-up of the mother and the baby
is mandatory prior to discharge of the patient
from the hospital.
• Advice includes
(1) Measures to improve her general health.
Continuance of supplementary iron therapy,
(2) postnatal exercises,
(3) procedures for a gradual return to day-to-day
activities,
(4) breastfeeding and care of the newborn,

16. CONTI..
(5) avoidance of intercourse for a reasonable
period of 4–6 weeks until lacerations or
episiotomy wound are well healed,
(6) family planning advice and guidance– Non
lactating women should practice some form of
contraceptive measures after 3 weeks and the
lactating women should start 3 months after
delivery and
(7) To have postnatal check up after 6 weeks.