Pre-natal Care:
Pre-natal care includes the steps taken by an expecting mother to maintain the baby’s well being. During pregnancy, a mother needs to be aware of the harmful effects of her actions. She needs to realize that these actions may permanently alter the child’s life. Often, many young teenage girls that become pregnant are unaware of the importance of pre-natal care. Many girls in this situation avoid getting the services needed that will help her to have a healthy and normal pregnancy. These services are free and confidential.
“Teen pregnancies cause problems for more than just the mother and father of the baby. The baby can have problems, too. Babies born to very young mothers often have a lower than normal weight when born. In general, the younger the mother, the greater the risk to the baby’s health.” (Merki 157)
Lesson 1:
As an introductory lesson, teacher will show a television special that discusses the importance of proper pre-natal care to ensure the unborn baby’s best chance of a normal healthy life. The teacher will assign students to work with a partner. Earn pair will be given focus questions to read before watching the movie. The students will be required to take notes based on the questions given prior to the movie. The group will watch the movie together. A culminating activity each pair will need to share their findings with the class during group discussion.
Sample Questions:
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1) What trends in pregnancy have occurred due to societal changes?
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2) Why do single mothers face a more difficult time in dealing with a pregnancy?
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3) Why do you think teenage mothers often do not seek help?
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4) How do economic factors play a role in affecting pre-natal care?
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5) What are some things that an expecting mother should do to help have a healthy baby?
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6) What are some things that an expecting mother can do that may damage or injure her unborn child?
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7) What negative effects can occur to a baby due to a mother’s negligence?
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8) Identify at least one term that can result from improper pre-natal care and define it.
Lesson 2:
Teacher presents a lesson of the effects of inadequate prenatal care. Teacher demonstrates information from community pamphlets, charts, and classroom discussion. Students are given a vocabulary list of terms that they will need to investigate and define including the following:
1) fetal alcohol syndrome
2) addiction
3) birth defects
4) nutrition
5) rubella
6) nicotine
7) environment
Lesson 3:
Panel presentation:
Teacher will arrange a panel of students to present the negative effects of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and poor nutrition. Each member of the panel will present the information relevant to his individual topic.
Lesson 4:
Teacher presents the movie “Keisha’s Choice”. It is about a teenage girl who is wrestling with the choice of avoiding drugs during her pregnancy. The movie demonstrates how and why to seek pre-natal care.
*Students will need to respond to the movie in their individual journals. They will be given an opportunity to share their responses in a group discussion.
