Gathering information and advising customers
For this session, use the article on pregnancy and baby care, as well as other sources of information, to strengthen your expertise on how to help expectant mums enjoy a healthy pregnancy and be prepared for the possible health concerns of their newborn baby.Â
You can use information sources you may have in the pharmacy, such as other articles, OTC medicines guides and manufacturers’ literature (e.g. on folic acid and vitamin supplements, medicines for colic, cradle cap and nappy rash). Take the time to talk to pregnant women and scan the magazine racks in your local shops to see if you can spot any articles on pregnancy and baby care that could give you an idea of the type of advice mums-to-be are receiving. For further inspiration, visit the websites listed in the ‘information sources’ page.
You will find plenty of information, including expert opinion, on pregnancy and baby care in our article. In order to make it useful and relevant to your work:
- Can you identify four myths associated with pregnancy that we have not discussed in
our article? - Which pregnancy myths have you heard from customers in the pharmacy?Â
- Think about mums from other cultures who visit your pharmacy. What do you know about pregnancy myths in other cultures? Do you know of any different practices that they may believe in during pregnancy?
- What is SPD? What are the symptoms and what advice would you give to a pregnant woman suffering from SPD?
- Which OTC medicines are considered safe during pregnancy? How do you handle requests for OTC medicines by pregnant women? Discuss this with your pharmacist
- Which foods should be avoided during pregnancy?Â
- What proportion of pregnant women take folic acid? What could you do in the pharmacy to improve this figure?
- Who should be advised to take 5mg folic acid daily?
- Identify four foods that contain vitamin D
- What advice should be given on vitamin D for an infant during the first 12 months
of life and beyond? - What tips can help a pregnant woman who is suffering from morning sickness?