The Role of the Nurse Educator in Prenatal Care

Many people view childbirth as a joyful and fulfilling event. Writer Paul Carvel stated, “To witness the birth of a child is our best opportunity to experience the meaning of the word miracle” (as cited in Brill, 2011, Well Pregnancy Links section, para. 3). Irish dramatist, George Bernard Shaw further explained, “Life is a flame that is always burning itself out, but it catches fire again every time a child is born” (as cited in Moncur, 2010, p. 1). Yet, along with the joy of bringing another human being into this world come concerns about the appropriate medical decisions that need to be made by the mother. It is not uncommon for women to have questions and concerns about what it is they can and cannot do throughout their pregnancy.

Undoubtedly, the key to a healthy pregnancy is seeking adequate prenatal care. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [Office on Women’s Health] (2009), “Babies of mothers who do not get prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight and five times more likely to die than those born to mothers who do get care” (p. 1). This is where the prenatal nurse educator plays a major role. A prenatal nurse educator specializes in prenatal care and has acquired advance knowledge, usually a Bachelor or Master of Science in Nursing degree, that ensures that both the mother and the baby are healthy. The prenatal nurse job requirements include performing physical assessments, ordering and interpreting lab results, and teaching various childbirth techniques. The prenatal nurse educator helps aid the expecting mother throughout the prenatal period, during delivery, and even after the delivery of the baby. The nurse educator is able to better prepare expecting mothers fo...

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...regnant mother consumes alcohol, it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and crosses the placenta putting the fetus at risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which causes permanent birth defects. “Approximately 40,000 infants are born with a FASD, a number that has remained unchanged for the past 10 years in the U.S.” (March & Frozena, 2010).

Childbirth is a very exceptional experience that comes with its own set of medical anxieties. Babies are continuously being born every day to frightened mothers who do not know what to expect. Prenatal nurses help make childbirth less terrifying by guiding mothers throughout the entire process. As a result, the prenatal nurse profession is growing significantly. Prenatal nurse educators are a great strength to expecting mothers. Prenatal nurse educators help make the experience of giving life more enjoyable.