SEE THE EFFECT ON THE LIFE OF YOUR CHILD
 

MATERNAL ANAEMIA

Ensure that mother is not anaemic during pregnancy. 
Blood haemoglobin should be checked and iron  foliate tablets should be taken every day. 
Iron rich food such as greens, jaggery, dates, bitter gourd etc should be eaten everyday. 
Avoid tea/coffee with meals because  they block iron absorption from the food. 
Wear chappals to prevent hookworm infestation. Hookworms feed on blood cells and cause anaemia. 
Treat your daughter/wife if she is anaemic -Check her blood If anaemic give iron and folic acid tablets daily as prescribed by a doctor or nurse until blood levels come back to normal. 
If severly anaemic she may require iron injections or blood transfusion in a hospital setting -During pregnancy, blood should be checked and  IFA tablets should be taken daily.
  RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE
 

MOTHER'S AGE AND WEIGHT

Ensure that women should be at least  21 years old and weigh at least 45 kg before pregnancy and gain 10 kilos during pregnancy. 
Do not fear a big baby if mother is healthy(a well  nourished mother of 45 kg can deliver normally a  baby  
of even 3 kg. 
Take adequate grains, grams and greens to attain optimum weight of 45 kg before pregnancy. 
Eat additional food, reduce workload and take  adequate rest to ensure a weight gain of 10 kilos  during pregnancy. 
 
  RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE
 

HOSPITAL DELIVERY

Ensure that your baby is delivered in a hospital or health centre where trained doctors or nurses are  available 24 hours to manage emergencies if required. 
If there is any difficulty in giving birth, then  emergency forceps or caesarian section may be  required. 
If mother bleeds, blood transfusion may be required. IF baby does not breathe after birth, then artificial 
respiration may be required.
  RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE
 

BIRTH WEIGHT

Make sure that your full term baby weighs at least two and half kilograms at birth. 
If your full term baby weighs less than 2.5 kilos at  birth, then She/he has a higher risk of frequent  
illnesses and death. 
She/he  may not grow tall and strong. She/he has a risk of lower than normal IQ and less than normal perfomance in studies.
  RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE
 

NEWBORN CARE AND POST-NATAL CARE

Soon after birth, the newborn baby  needs special care Keep the baby warm and close to the mother's body 
Feed your baby with colostrum within half an hour of birth to ensure that baby develops immunity to  diseases 
Do not give yuor baby any pre-lacteal feeds. Do not bathe the baby immediately. 
Prevent infections by not allowing others to handle/ fondle the baby. 
Soon after delivery, the mother should Drink plenty of water Eat normal diet with rice , vegetables, pulses,  
meat fish etc. 
Take bath daily Follow personal hygiene strictly Walking and mild exercise is a must
  RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE
 

BREAST FEEDING AND SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING

Colostrum gives immunity and protects against diseases 
Breast milk alone is sufficient for the baby until four months of age 
Babies should be breastfed on demand 
From the fifth month breast milk should be  supplemented with other food 
Feed your baby often and in small quantities at least five or six times daily 
Feed your baby with mashed rice , pulses , vegetables , fruits and other foods
  RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE
 

IMMUNISATION AND CARE DURING ILLNESSES

Ensure that your child is fully immunised with BCG Dpt3, POV3, and measles immunisations 
Ensure that your child is given ORS/extra fluids and continued feeding during diarrhoea 
Baby must be taken to VHN or doctor if fast  breathing is present with fever, cough or cold
  RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE
 

SAFE WATER AND SANITATION

Ensure that sanitary latrine is available at home Ensure that safe drinking water is available in the  home 
Safe drinking water and sanitation prevents diseases protects life and promotes growth 
  RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE
 

EDUCATION

Ensure that mothers are literate and have completed at least five years of school 
Ensure that your child attends Balwadi regularly Enrol your child in primary school on reaching five years
  RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE
 

CARE OF GIRL CHILD

Treat your son and daughter equally Healthy girls give birth to healthy boys and girls 
Give special care to your daughter from birth to  adolescence to ensure a healthy grandchild 
Happiness of your daughter depends on her health and the health of her children 
True manliness of the husband is in caring and  supporting the wife and children.
 RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE
 
BASED ON MATERIAL CONCEPTUALISED AND PRODUCED BY
UNICEF Field Office for Tamil Nadu and Kerala, 20 Chittaranjan Road, Chennai - 600018
WITH MESSAGES PREPARED BY
Tamil Nadu Nutrition Network and Tamil Nadu IEC Task Force
WHICH IS HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED