Can Home Nursing Support Be Received During Pregnancy?

Home nursing support may be received during pregnancy. However, this service does not replace routine pregnancy follow-ups, ultrasound examinations or necessary in-person assessments performed by an obstetrician and gynaecologist. Home nursing may help apply a physician-defined care plan at home, monitor the mother’s basic health values and carry out planned medical procedures safely.

The scope of home support should be determined according to the stage of pregnancy, the mother’s general health, medicines and medical recommendations. The World Health Organization states that home visits may support access to antenatal care, while pregnancy should still be monitored through regular, evidence-based antenatal assessments.

Does Home Nursing Replace Pregnancy Follow-Up?

Home nursing should not be considered a complete replacement for pregnancy follow-up. Determining gestational age, evaluating fetal development, ultrasound examinations, screening tests, assessment of the cervix and birth planning are managed by an obstetrician and gynaecologist.

A home nurse supports the implementation of a care plan prepared by the physician. If an unusual change is noticed in measurements or the mother’s general condition, the nurse reports it to the physician and helps facilitate referral to an appropriate healthcare institution. Assessing, recording and reporting changes in vital signs are also among the fundamental responsibilities of nurses within home healthcare services.

Which Services Can A Home Nurse Provide During Pregnancy?

Procedures that may be provided by a home nurse vary according to a previously defined medical care and treatment plan. Not every medical procedure should be performed during pregnancy solely at the mother’s request.

Monitoring Vital Signs

A home nurse may measure the mother’s basic health values at specified intervals. This may be particularly useful for mothers who have difficulty moving, have recently been discharged from hospital or have been advised to undergo more regular measurements.

The main values that may be monitored include:

• Blood pressure: Helps assess changes in high or low blood pressure over time.

• Pulse: Allows monitoring of resting heart rate.

• Body temperature: May be assessed when infection is suspected.

• Respiratory rate: May indicate changes in breathing.

• Oxygen saturation: May be measured when considered necessary by the physician.

• Blood glucose: Measurement support may be provided for people with gestational diabetes who have a physician-defined monitoring plan.

A single normal measurement does not conclusively show that there is no problem during pregnancy. Results should be considered together with symptoms, gestational age and previous values.

Medicines And Injections Planned By A Physician

Every medicine used during pregnancy should be planned following an assessment by an obstetrician and gynaecologist. A home nurse may administer prescribed injections when clear instructions have been provided.

Home procedures may include:

• Injections prescribed by a physician

• Planned medicine administration

• Intravenous access

• Intravenous fluids planned after medical assessment

• Monitoring the injection site and possible adverse effects

A mother should not restart a medicine prescribed before pregnancy without medical approval. The dose and frequency are not changed independently by the home nurse.

Blood And Urine Sample Collection At Home

Home collection may be planned for certain blood and urine tests requested by the physician. This option may make the process easier for mothers who have difficulty travelling to hospital or have been advised to rest.

The samples that can be collected at home depend on the test. Interpretation of the results and decisions regarding treatment should be made by the relevant physician. Home sample collection does not replace ultrasound, physical examination or pregnancy screening that must be performed in a healthcare institution.

Care Education And Daily Support

A home nurse may help the mother apply the physician-defined care plan correctly. Education should be adapted to the individual’s health condition.

Support may include:

• Correct administration of prescribed medicines

• Use of blood pressure or glucose-monitoring devices

• Protection of injection sites

• Monitoring fluid intake and general condition

• Reducing risks associated with immobility

• Recognising signs of infection

• Planning which healthcare institution to contact in an emergency

One purpose of home healthcare is to educate patients and relatives about the care process and provide safe support within the home.

Who May Benefit From Home Nursing Support?

Home nursing is not mandatory in every pregnancy. The service should be determined according to the mother’s needs and the physician’s plan.

Home support may be considered in situations such as:

• Temporary limitation of mobility

• Rest recommended by a physician

• A need for regular injections or medicines

• Monitoring blood pressure or blood glucose

• A need for home follow-up after hospitalisation

• Repeated blood or urine testing

• Difficulty accessing a healthcare institution

• A need for professional support with care procedures

The stage of pregnancy, accompanying conditions, previous pregnancy history and current symptoms should be considered when planning home nursing.

How Is A Home Nursing Visit Planned?

Before home nursing begins, the mother’s needs should be defined as clearly as possible. Instead of requesting only a “general check”, the medical plan should state which measurements, medicine administration or sample collection is required.

The following information may be prepared before the visit:

• Gestational age

• Details of the obstetrician and gynaecologist managing the pregnancy

• Medicines and supplements

• Medicine allergies

• Previous pregnancy and birth history

• Existing chronic conditions

• Recent laboratory and examination results

• Written administration or monitoring instructions

• New symptoms experienced recently

• Emergency contact details

Happ Health Home Basic Nursing Services may include monitoring vital signs, administering prescribed medicines, providing injections, supporting wound care and observing general health.

How Is The Frequency Of Home Nursing Determined?

There is no fixed visit schedule that applies to every pregnant person. A single injection or sample-collection visit may be sufficient, while regular monitoring on specific days may be needed for others.

The frequency is determined according to:

• The physician’s monitoring recommendation

• The type of procedure

• The mother’s health

• Previous measurement results

• Gestational age

• Medicines being used

• Duration of the home-care need

• Access to healthcare institutions

When an important change in measurements or a new symptom develops, the next planned visit should not be awaited before contacting the physician.

Can A Home Nurse Check The Baby’s Health?

Standard home nursing services do not include a detailed assessment of fetal development. Fetal growth, anatomy, placental position and amniotic fluid are evaluated through ultrasound, which requires appropriate equipment and expertise.

Listening to the fetal heartbeat or performing an NST may only be considered when specifically planned by the physician, the necessary equipment is available and the procedure is included in the service. Results should be interpreted by an obstetrician and gynaecologist.

When fetal movements decrease significantly or change from their usual pattern, a home visit should not be awaited and the maternity team should be contacted promptly.

How Is Hygiene Maintained During Home Nursing?

Hygiene standards should be followed during injections, intravenous access and sample collection in pregnancy. Supplies should be single use, stored appropriately and suitable for the planned procedure.

The following should be considered:

• Hand hygiene

• Appropriate personal protective equipment

• Antiseptic preparation of injection and intravenous sites

• Verification of the medicine name and expiry date

• Safe disposal of needles and medical supplies

• Monitoring for redness, swelling or pain after the procedure

• Recording procedures and measurements

Home nursing should be provided by qualified healthcare professionals under safe and hygienic conditions.

When Is Home Nursing Not Sufficient?

Home nursing does not replace emergency obstetric care. A planned home visit should not be awaited when symptoms may threaten the health of the mother or baby.

Prompt contact with a healthcare institution is required when there is:

• Vaginal bleeding

• Severe or increasing abdominal or pelvic pain

• Leakage of fluid from the vagina

• Regular and painful contractions

• Significant reduction in fetal movements

• Severe and persistent headache

• Blurred vision or flashing lights

• Sudden swelling of the face or hands

• High fever

• Recurrent vomiting and inability to consume fluids

• Chest pain

• Significant shortness of breath

• Fainting or altered consciousness

• Seizure

Bleeding, fluid leakage, severe pain and other warning signs during pregnancy should be assessed in a hospital.

In cases of severe shortness of breath, heavy bleeding, altered consciousness, seizure or fainting, emergency services should be contacted or the nearest emergency department should be visited.

This content is provided for general informational purposes. Home monitoring, medicines, injections and care procedures during pregnancy should be planned following an assessment by an obstetrician and gynaecologist.

Plan Your Home Nursing Support With Happ Health

With the “Health Everywhere, For Everyone, Always.” approach, we believe that home nursing during pregnancy should not consist of performing a single procedure alone. The mother’s needs, the physician’s care plan and safe monitoring conditions should be assessed together.

Through Happ Health Home Nursing services, you may receive professional support for physician-recommended vital-sign monitoring, prescribed injections and medicines, sample collection at home and observation of general health.

Happ Health provides home healthcare under a Ministry of Health-approved home-care licence in collaboration with the expert and reliable healthcare teams of Medical Park and Liv Hospital. This allows home support during pregnancy to be planned in connection with hospital experience and professional healthcare services.

Preparing your gestational age, medicines, recent test results and medical instructions before the service may help ensure accurate planning. When ultrasound, physical examination or hospital assessment is needed, referral may be made to Medical Park or Liv Hospital healthcare institutions.

In cases of vaginal bleeding, fluid leakage, severe abdominal pain, reduced fetal movements, serious headache, shortness of breath, fainting or rapidly worsening general health, a home nursing visit should not be awaited and urgent medical assessment should be obtained.