SISTER NIVEDITA GOVERNMENT NURSING COLLEGE

IGMC, SHIMLA

SUBJECT: OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGICAL NURSING

HEALTH TALK : ANTENATAL CARE

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

Mrs. Prema Negi Archita Sharma

Lecturer MSc. (N) 1st Year

Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing SNGNC, IGMC

SNGNC, IGMC Shimla

Shimla

SUBMITTED ON:
INTRODUCTION
Being a mother is one of the most blessed and the most challenging job in the world. Giving
birth to a new life and making it walk through the new world holding its hands showing a
good path makes a mother successful in her life.

Pregnancy, process and series of changes that take place in a woman’s organs and tissues as a
result of a developing fetus. The entire process from fertilization to birth takes an average of
266–270 days, or about nine months.

During pregnancy, the pregnant mother undergoes significant anatomical and physiological
changes in order to nurture and accommodate the developing foetus. These changes begin
after conception and affect every organ system in the body.

Therefore, providing good care before, during, and after pregnancy is very important. It can
help baby grow and develop and keep both mother and baby healthy. It is the best way to be
sure the little one gets a head start on a healthy life.

ANTENATAL CARE
Antenatal care, also known as prenatal care, is a type of preventive healthcare. It is provided
in the form of medical checkups, consisting of recommendations on managing a healthy
lifestyle and the provision of medical information such as maternal physiological changes in
pregnancy, biological changes, and prenatal nutrition including prenatal vitamins, which
prevents potential health problems throughout the course of the pregnancy and promotes the
mother and child's health alike.

Antenatal care is systemic supervision of a woman during pregnancy at regular

intervals to monitor maternal wellbeing, fetal wellbeing, and progress of fetal growth.
Systematic examination and advice of a woman during pregnancy is called antenatal
(prenatal) care. The supervision should be regular and periodic in nature according to
the need of the individual.
Actually, prenatal care is the care in continuum that starts before pregnancy and ends
at delivery and the postpartum period. Antenatal care comprises of:
 Careful history taking and examinations (general and obstetrical).
 Advice given to the pregnant woman.
IMPORTANCE OF ANTENATAL CARE
• Preparation of birth plan and identification of facility for delivery.

• Providing quality of care for well-being of pregnant women and the fetus.

• Early identification of maternal and fetal complications and timely referral.

• Identification of a facility for referral.

AIMS OF ANTENATAL CARE

• To screen the high-risk cases.
• To prevent or to detect and treat any complication at the earliest.
• To ensure continued risk assessment and to provide ongoing primary preventive
healthcare.
• To educate the mother about physiology of pregnancy and labor by demonstrations,
charts and diagrams, so that the fear is removed and psychology is improved.
• To discuss with the couple about the place, time and mode of delivery, provisionally
and care of the newborn.

OBJECTIVE OF ANTENATAL CARE

• To ensure a normal pregnancy with delivery of a healthy baby from a healthy mother.
The criteria of a normal pregnancy are delivery of a single baby in a good condition at
term (between 38 and 42 weeks), with fetal weight of 2.5 kg or more and with no
maternal complication. As such, a normal pregnancy is a retrospective term.
COMPONENTS OF ANTENATAL CARE
REGISTRATION
Register yourself at the nearest health facility as soon as pregnancy is detected.

Four antenatal check ups are essential for a pregnant woman:

1. First ANC Check-up- As soon as the period is missed or within first three months
of missing the period.
2. Second ANC Check-up – in 4th – 6th month of pregnancy.
3. Third ANC Check-up - In 7th – 8th month of pregnancy.
4. Fourth ANC Check-up – In 9th month of pregnancy.
 Regular ANC visits to protect you and your baby from complications and ensures
healthy mother and child.

ANTENATAL CHECKUP
 Get your Hb, blood pressure (BP), urine, weight and abdomen checked at every visit.
 Haemoglobin estimation
helps in early detection and
treatment of anaemia

Detection of albumin and

sugar saves you and your
baby from serious conditions

Get your haemoglobin measured to

assess anaemia.

 Abdominal check-up during ANC helps in assessing foetal growth and its well-being.

TETANUS TOXOID INJECTION

 Get two doses of T.T injection at one month interval.
 Tetanus toxoid injection protects both mother and baby from tetanus which is one of
the life-threatening conditions.
IRON FOLIC ACID (IFA) TABLETS
 During pregnancy 100 tablets of iron and folic acid will be given.
 One tablet of IFA is to be taken daily starting from fourth month of pregnancy.
 If you are anaemic, you will be advised to take two IFA tablets daily.

DIET DURING PREGNANCY

 You need to eat one extra meal a day during pregnancy.
 Take milk and dairy products like curd, buttermilk, paneer-these are rich in
calcium, proteins and vitamins.
 Eat fresh/seasonal fruits and vegetables as these provide vitamins and iron.
Cereals, whole grains and pulses are good sources of proteins.
 Green leafy vegetables are a rich source of iron and folic acid.
 A handful (45 grams) of nuts and at least two cups of daal provide daily
requirement of proteins in vegetarians.
 For non-vegetarians, meat, egg, chicken or fish are good sources of proteins,
vitamins and iron.

 As the essential vitamins are lacking in the foods or are destroyed during cooking,
supplementary vitamins are to be given daily from 20th week onwards.
A well-balanced diet consisting of a variety of food helps in the growth of the baby and
prevents anemia.

RICH SOURCES OF IMPORTANT FOODS

IRON

Green leafy vegetables, whole grains, cereals,

1. dry fruits, nuts, meat, jaggary.

CALCIUM
2. Milk, milk products, sesame seeds, almonds,
soya milk, turnip, egg.

VITAMINS

3. Orange and dark green vegetables, citrus fruits,

apple, tomato, amla, vegetables, meat, fish,
eggs, sunlight, milk and milk products, soya
products.
 PROTEINS
4. Paneer, milk and other milk products, combined
grains, seeds, nuts, egg, meat, poultry, soya
beans.

FATS
5. Butter, ghee, oils, nuts.

BOWEL CARE
 Avoid constipation.
 Regulation of diet taking plenty of fluids, vegetables and milk.

CLEANLINESS
 Wash your hands with soap and water before every meal and after
attending toilet of self and baby.
 Clip your nails regularly.

 Personal hygiene prevents acquiring infection and also from transmitting to the baby.
 Patient should take bath daily but be careful against slipping in the bathroom due to
imbalance.
DENTAL CARE
 Good dental care and oral hygiene should be maintained.
 The dentist should be consulted, if necessary.

CLOTHING, SHOES AND BELT

 The patient should wear loose but comfortable garments.

 High heel shoes should better be avoided in advanced pregnancy when the center of
balance alters.
 Constricting belt should be avoided.
REST DURING PREGNANCY
 Have 8 hours of sleep at night and at least 2 hours rest during the day.

 Lie on your left side as it increases the blood supply to the foetus.

 Avoid hard work such as lifting heavy weight.

 Do not overexert yourself and delegate few tasks to others.

Adequate rest gives you physical and mental relaxation which is good both for you and the
baby.
FAMILY SUPPORT

 Family behaviour and attitude should be pleasant and encouraging.

 Family should ensure provision of healthy diet and timely visits to health facility.
 Avoid delay in contacting medical facility when labour starts or in case of a
complication.
 Adequate finance and transport should be arranged beforehand.
 A blood donor should be identified for any unforeseen emergencies.
 Care and support by husband and mother-in-law gives emotional support and
confidence in child bearing.
DANGER SIGNS DURING PREGNANCY
Severe pain in abdomen. Generalised weakness, easy fatigability
and breathlessness.

Bleeding per vaginum. Excessive swelling in legs.

Convulsions. Fever.
CONCLUSION
Antenatal care is an essential component of a healthy and successful pregnancy journey. It
provides a wide range of benefits, including early detection and management of
complications, monitoring fetal development, nutritional guidance, education and
counselling, emotional support, and the opportunity to build a strong rapport with healthcare
providers.

Antenatal care also plays a pivotal role in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality rates,
ensuring a safer childbirth experience.
RECAPITUALIZATION
 What is antenatal care?
 How many antenatal checkups are necessary?
 Why iron and folic acid tablets are given?
 What kind of diet should be taken during pregnancy?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Dutta DC, Textbook of Obstetrics including Perinatology and Contraception, 8 th
Edition. New Delhi; Jaypee Brother’s Medical Publishers (P) Ltd. 2015. 106-116.

REFERENCES
 https://nhm.gov.in/images/pdf/programmes/maternal-health/guidelines/
my_safe_motherhood_booklet_english.pdf
 https://www.orangehealthcare.in/uncategorized/the-importance-of-antenatal-care-a-
comprehensive-guide-for-expecting-mothers/
 https://www.slideshare.net/elsiqueen/health-education-on-antenatal-care