Care during pregnancy and preparation for child birth

• Birth preparedness/micro birth plan - including place of delivery and the presence of an attendant at the time of the delivery.
• Advantages of institutional deliveries and risks involved in home deliveries.
• Signs of labor and danger signs of obstetric complications.
• Complication readiness - recognizing danger signs during pregnancy, labor and after delivery/abortion
• Importance of seeking Ante Natal Check-ups and Post Natal Check-ups
• Care during Medical Termination of Pregnancy
• Information on sex during pregnancy.
• Promoting family planning.
• Malaria prophylaxis and treatment
• Advise on diet (nutrition) and rest.
• Advice to eat more than her normal diet throughout the pregnancy - a pregnant woman needs about 300 kcal extra per day, over and above her usual diet, and 500 kcal extra in the post-partum period.
• Importance of a high protein diet, including items such as black gram, groundnuts, ragi, whole grains, milk, eggs, meat and nuts or any other locally available food items for anemic women.
• Intake of plenty of fruits and vegetables containing vitamin C (e.g. mango, guava, orange and sweet lime), as these enhance the absorption of iron.
• Avoid taking tea or coffee within an hour after a meal

Special categories of women who require additional nutrition during pregnancy include the following:

• Women who are underweight (less than 45 kg)
• Women who have an increased level of physical activity, above the usual levels, during pregnancy.
• Adolescent girls who are pregnant
• Those who become pregnant within two years of the previous delivery
• Those with multiple pregnancy
• Women who are HIV positive.