Health education on Antenatal care include definition,aim, objectives, registration, antenatal check up, immunization, iron & folic acid, diet, bowel care, cleanliness, clothing, shoes, dental care, care of breast, sleep, exercise, coitus, travel, smoking & alcohol, family support & dangers signs during pregnancy.

2. ANTENATAL CARE
 DEFINITION:Systematic supervision (examination
and advice) of a women during pregnancy is called
antenatal (prenatal) care. The pregnancy is of 9
months, and it is divided into 3 trimesters (each one
has 3 months).
 Aim: Aim is to achieve at the end of a pregnancy a
healthy mother and a healthy baby. This care should
begin soon after conception and continue
throughout pregnancy.

3. OBJECTIVES
 Promote, protect and maintain the health of the mother during
pregnancy.
 Detect “high-risk” pregnancies and give the mother’s special
attention.
 Foresee complication and prevent them.
 Remove anxiety and fear associated with delivery.
 Reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity.
 Teach mother, elements of childcare, nutrition, personal hygiene
and environmental sanitation.
 Sensitize the mother to the need for the family planning.

4. REGISTRATION

5. 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 protect you and your baby from
complications and ensures healthy mother and child.

6. ANTENATAL CHECK-UP
 Get your Hb
Blood pressure(BP)
urine, weight and abdomen checked
at every visit.
Ensure that you receive IFA tablets and
two doses of Inj. Tetanus Toxoid (TT).
 Always consult your MO if necessary
orreferred.

7. Get your weight checked. (Average
weight gain during pregnancy is 9 -
11 kg).
Haemoglobin estimation helps
in early detection and
treatment of anaemia
Detection of albumin and
sugar saves you and your
baby from serious conditions

8. Get your blood pressure checked
to detect high BP which can be
dangerous for you and your
baby.
Abdominal Check-up during
ANC helps in assessing foetal
growth and its well- being

9. TETANUS TOXOID INJECTION
Tetanus Toxoid Injection protects both mother and baby
from
Tetanus which is one of the life threatening conditions.
Get two doses of T.T. injection at one month
interval.

10. 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 the fourth month of
pregnancy.
 If you are anaemic, you will be advised to take two IFA tablets daily, one

11. DIET DURING PREGNANCY
• 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.

12. RICH SOURCES OF IMPORTANT
NUTRIENTS
A well balanced diet consisting
of a variety of food helps in the
growth of the baby and
prevents anaemia

14. BOWEL CARE
 AVOIND CONSTIPATION
 REGULATION OF DIET TAKING PLENTY OF
FLUIDS, VEGETABLES & MILK.

15. Wash your hands with soap and water
before every meal and after attending toilet
Clip your nails regularly
CLEANLINESS
PERSONAL HYGIENE PREVENTS
ACQUIRING INFECTION AND ALSO FROM
TRANSMITTING TO THE BABY
Daily bath & careful against

16. CLOTHING, SHOES & BELT
WEAR LOOSE
COMFORTABLE, COTTON
GARMENTS
AVOID HIGH HEELSHOES &
CONSTRICTING BELT

17. DENTAL CARE

18. CARE OF
BREAST
Breast
engorgement
may cause
discomfort
during late
pregnancy. A
well-fitting
brassiere can
give relief.
CARE OF
THE
BREASTS

19. 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

20. EXCERCISE

21. COITUS
 Contact with the husband to be avoided during the
first trimester & last six weeks.
 Generally, coitus is not restricted during pregnancy.
Release of prostaglandins and oxytocin with coitus
may cause uterine contractions.
 Women with increased risk of miscarriage or
preterm labor should avoid coitus if they feel such
increased uterine activity.

22. TRAVEL
• Travel by vehicles having jerks is better to be avoided,
especially in first trimester and the last 6 weeks.
• The long journey is preferably to be limited to the second
trimester.
• Rail route is preferable to bus route. Travel in pressurized
aircraft is safe up to 36 weeks.
• Air travel is contraindicated in cases with placenta previa,
preeclampsia, severe anemia and sickle cell disease.
Prolonged sitting in a car or aeroplane should be avoided due
to the risk of venous stasis and thromboembolism.

23. TRAVEL

24. SMOKING, ALCOHOL & DRUGS
• In view of the fact that smoking is injurious to health, it is better to
stop smoking not only during pregnancy but even thereafter.
•Heavy smokers have smaller babies and there is also more chance
of abortion.
• Similarly, alcohol consumption is to be drastically curtailed or
avoided, so as to prevent fetal maldevelopment or growth restriction

25. 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

26. DANGER SIGNALS DURING PREGNANCY
IF ANY COMPLICATIONS OCCUR- SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY
TO PRESERVE YOUR HEALTH AND LIFE
Severe pain in abdomen.
Generalised weakness,
easy fatigability
and breathlessness.
Bleeding per vaginum
Excessive swelling in
legs.
Convulsions
Fever