Introduction

Every pregnancy is an unique experience for a woman. During this unique period, a woman has many emotional and physical needs that must be addressed in order for her to have a happy, comfortable and safe pregnancy which culminates in the birth of a healthy baby. You have already learned how you can help ensure these needs are met in the Antenatal Care, Labour and Delivery Care and Postnatal Care Modules. However, young women who are pregnant may have different needs from those of older women and you need to know these special needs in order to effectively help young women during this period. In this session you will learn to identify the special emotional and physical needs of young women during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period and you will learn how to develop strategies to address their needs.