Checking the pulse

The pulse tells you how fast the heart is beating. Every time the heart beats (contracts), it pushes blood out into the arteries. You can feel each "pulse" by pressing gently on an artery with your fingers. Everyone's pulse is different.That is normal. You can find the pulse on the lateral part of the neck (carotid pulse) or wrist (radial pulse). A normal pulse rate is about 60 to 90 beats per a minute when the woman is resting.

How to Measure the Pulse Rate

Wait until the woman is resting and relaxed. Put the pads of two fingers on the pulse (Figure 8.2). Do not use your thumbs, because there is a little pulse in your thumbs which could confuse you. Make sure the woman is sitting in a relaxed position when you measure her pulse rate.

If you have a watch with a second hand, or there is a clock with a second hand, count the number of beats in the mother's pulse for one minute. Write the number down. At first, have someone look at the watch or clock for you, and tell you when one minute has passed. Many people find it hard to count accurately while looking at a watch. They tend to count one pulse beat every second, no matter how fast the pulse is beating.

What to Do if the Woman Has a Fast Pulse

If her pulse rate is 100 beats or more per minute, she may have one or more of the following problems:

• Stress, fear, worry or depression.
  
• Anemia.
  
• An infection like malaria.
  
• Bladder infection, or infection in her uterus.
  
• Heavy bleeding.
  
• Thyroid trouble.
  
• Heart problem.