Aims of antenatal care

Pregnancy is a state of carrying fetus inside uterus by a woman from conception to birth. Gestation is the term given to pregnancy.

Prenatal :

Prenatal is the period from conception to birth.

Intranatal:

Intranatal is the period from the initiation of labour pain till

birth.

Postnatal:

Postnatal is the period from birth to 42 days Otherwise called as puerperium.

Prenatal or antenatal care:

Systematic supervision  of a woman during pregnancy is called  antenatal care. The supervision should be of a regular and periodic nature in accordance with the principles laid down or more frequently according to the need of the individual.

It is the education, supervision and treatment to a pregnant woman so that her pregnancy and labour will terminate with delivery of a mature healthy living baby, without injury to the mind or body of the mother.

The objective of Antenatal care is to ensure a normal pregnancy with delivery of a healthy baby from a healthy mother.

Aims of antenatal care:

Aims of antenatal care are

1. to monitor the progress of pregnancy in order to ensure maternal health and normal fetal development.

2. to recognise the deviation from the normal and provide management or treatment as required.

3.     to ensure that the woman reaches the end of her pregnancy physically and emotionally prepared for her delivery.

4.     to identify high risk pregnancy and for their proper management.

5.     to reduce or prevent maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity

6.     to help and support the mother in breast feeding and parenting.

7. to offer family welfare advices on parenthood.