The Continuing Education Unit at the Faculty of Nursing, University of Baghdad, organized a specialized scientific workshop entitled “The Role of the Family in Supporting New Mothers,” presented by Dr. Wissam Mashaan and attended by a group of faculty members and staff in the Continuing Education Hall at the faculty.
The workshop focused on key topics aimed at raising participants’ awareness of the importance of family support for mothers in the postpartum period and reviewing the critical psychological, social, and physical dimensions that mothers go through during this period. It also sought to enhance the skills of female employees in providing health education to mothers in their social environment and building positive attitudes that encourage families and towards active participation in caring for mothers and newborns.
The workshop concluded with a vision that emphasizes that the family is the first line of defense for the mother’s psychological and physical health, which requires the implementation of recommendations that stressed the importance of preparing interactive sessions that explain the changes that occur to the mother and using real-life stories to illustrate the positive impact of family support, while providing visual and written educational materials that are easy to share The recommendations also called for training staff in effective communication and listening skills and providing them with practical tools to raise awareness about nutrition, breastfeeding, and mental health care, in addition to encouraging families to provide emotional and practical support by helping with household chores, allowing mothers time to rest, and organizing recreational and social activities that promote their mental stability psychological
This workshop is part of the regular activities of the Continuing Education Unit in collaboration with the Maternal and Child Nursing Branch, reflecting the college’s firm commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 on good health and well-being and Goal 5 on gender equality and women’s empowerment, by creating a supportive environment that ensures the health of both mother and child. This type of education contributes to reducing rates of depression and postpartum health complications, which in turn leads to building stable families and strong communities capable of growth and prosperity, in line with the global vision of promoting quality of life and social well-being for all groups.
