Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing - The Carter Center

3.9 Antenatal Care
Definition: - Antenatal care is the care given to a woman
during her pregnancy.
Objectives:
1. To promote and maintain good health of the mother and
fetus during pregnancy
2. To ensure that the pregnancy result in healthy infant and
healthy mother.
3. To detect early and treat appropriately 'high risk'
conditions (Medical or Obstetrical).
4. To prepare the woman for Labour, Lactation and the
subsequent care of the baby.
Early antenatal care is important as soon as possible after
pregnancy hasbeen confirmed (after one or two missed
periods)
Defintions
Gravidity: Pregnancy
Primigravida = a woman pregnant for the first time
Multigravida = a woman who has had two or more
pregnancice
Parity- refers to delivery,
Nullipara = a woman who has not given birth to a child birth)
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