nursing
,ANTENATAL CARE (ANC)
Comprehensive Nursing Notes & Clinical Care Guide
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Definition & Overview
2. Goals & Objectives of Antenatal Care
3. Antenatal Care Models & Schedules
4. Initial Assessment & History Taking
5. Physical Examination
6. Laboratory Investigations
7. Screening & Diagnostic Tests
8. Nutrition & Supplementation
9. Common Discomforts of Pregnancy
10. Nursing Diagnoses (NANDA)
11. Nursing Interventions & Care Plans
12. High-Risk Pregnancy
13. Complications During Pregnancy
14. Antenatal Education & Counseling
15. Preparation for Labor & Delivery
16. Special Considerations
1. DEFINITION & OVERVIEW
Antenatal Care (ANC) is the care provided to a pregnant woman and her unborn
baby throughout pregnancy to ensure the best possible health outcomes for both
mother and child. It encompasses a broad range of health promotion, screening,
diagnostic, and preventive services.
Key Fact: According to WHO, adequate antenatal care can reduce
maternal mortality by 20% and neonatal mortality by up to 40%.
nursing
, Globally, only about 64% of pregnant women receive the recommended
minimum of 4 ANC visits.
Core Components of ANC
• Health promotion: Nutrition, lifestyle, danger signs education
• Disease prevention: Immunizations, prophylaxis
• Screening: For maternal and fetal conditions
• Diagnosis: Of pregnancy complications
• Treatment: Of existing conditions and complications
• Birth preparedness: Planning for safe delivery and postpartum care
2. GOALS & OBJECTIVES OF ANTENATAL CARE
Primary Goals
1. Promote maternal health and well-being throughout pregnancy
2. Ensure fetal health and optimal growth and development
3. Detect and manage pregnancy complications early
4. Prepare the woman physically and psychologically for labor, delivery, and
parenthood
5. Reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality
Specific Objectives
For the Mother
Objective Activities
Monitor maternal health Regular BP, weight, urine protein,
hematocrit
Screen for complications Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia,
anemia, infections
Provide immunizations Tetanus toxoid, influenza, COVID-19
Prevent and treat anemia Iron and folic acid supplementation
Prevent malaria IPTp with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine
nursing
, Objective Activities
(endemic areas)
Prevent mother-to-child HIV testing, ARV prophylaxis/treatment
transmission
Counsel on birth preparedness Birth plan, emergency plan, facility
delivery
Promote breastfeeding Education, support, anticipatory guidance
Screen for mental health Depression, anxiety, intimate partner
violence
For the Fetus
Objective Activities
Confirm pregnancy viability Early ultrasound, fetal heart rate
Monitor fetal growth Fundal height measurement, ultrasound
Screen for congenital anomalies First and second trimester screening
Assess fetal well-being Fetal movements, NST, BPP
Determine fetal position Leopold’s maneuvers, ultrasound
Screen for fetal infections TORCH screening, syphilis, HIV
3. ANTENATAL CARE MODELS & SCHEDULES
WHO Focused Antenatal Care (FANC) Model
The WHO recommends a minimum of 8 contacts for a positive pregnancy
experience (2016 update).
Visit Timing Key Components
Contact 1 Before 12 weeks Confirm pregnancy, comprehensive
(first trimester) history, baseline labs, dating
ultrasound, risk assessment,
counseling
Contact 2 12-16 weeks Review labs, first trimester screening,
nursing
,ANTENATAL CARE (ANC)
Comprehensive Nursing Notes & Clinical Care Guide
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Definition & Overview
2. Goals & Objectives of Antenatal Care
3. Antenatal Care Models & Schedules
4. Initial Assessment & History Taking
5. Physical Examination
6. Laboratory Investigations
7. Screening & Diagnostic Tests
8. Nutrition & Supplementation
9. Common Discomforts of Pregnancy
10. Nursing Diagnoses (NANDA)
11. Nursing Interventions & Care Plans
12. High-Risk Pregnancy
13. Complications During Pregnancy
14. Antenatal Education & Counseling
15. Preparation for Labor & Delivery
16. Special Considerations
1. DEFINITION & OVERVIEW
Antenatal Care (ANC) is the care provided to a pregnant woman and her unborn
baby throughout pregnancy to ensure the best possible health outcomes for both
mother and child. It encompasses a broad range of health promotion, screening,
diagnostic, and preventive services.
Key Fact: According to WHO, adequate antenatal care can reduce
maternal mortality by 20% and neonatal mortality by up to 40%.
nursing
, Globally, only about 64% of pregnant women receive the recommended
minimum of 4 ANC visits.
Core Components of ANC
• Health promotion: Nutrition, lifestyle, danger signs education
• Disease prevention: Immunizations, prophylaxis
• Screening: For maternal and fetal conditions
• Diagnosis: Of pregnancy complications
• Treatment: Of existing conditions and complications
• Birth preparedness: Planning for safe delivery and postpartum care
2. GOALS & OBJECTIVES OF ANTENATAL CARE
Primary Goals
1. Promote maternal health and well-being throughout pregnancy
2. Ensure fetal health and optimal growth and development
3. Detect and manage pregnancy complications early
4. Prepare the woman physically and psychologically for labor, delivery, and
parenthood
5. Reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality
Specific Objectives
For the Mother
Objective Activities
Monitor maternal health Regular BP, weight, urine protein,
hematocrit
Screen for complications Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia,
anemia, infections
Provide immunizations Tetanus toxoid, influenza, COVID-19
Prevent and treat anemia Iron and folic acid supplementation
Prevent malaria IPTp with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine
nursing
, Objective Activities
(endemic areas)
Prevent mother-to-child HIV testing, ARV prophylaxis/treatment
transmission
Counsel on birth preparedness Birth plan, emergency plan, facility
delivery
Promote breastfeeding Education, support, anticipatory guidance
Screen for mental health Depression, anxiety, intimate partner
violence
For the Fetus
Objective Activities
Confirm pregnancy viability Early ultrasound, fetal heart rate
Monitor fetal growth Fundal height measurement, ultrasound
Screen for congenital anomalies First and second trimester screening
Assess fetal well-being Fetal movements, NST, BPP
Determine fetal position Leopold’s maneuvers, ultrasound
Screen for fetal infections TORCH screening, syphilis, HIV
3. ANTENATAL CARE MODELS & SCHEDULES
WHO Focused Antenatal Care (FANC) Model
The WHO recommends a minimum of 8 contacts for a positive pregnancy
experience (2016 update).
Visit Timing Key Components
Contact 1 Before 12 weeks Confirm pregnancy, comprehensive
(first trimester) history, baseline labs, dating
ultrasound, risk assessment,
counseling
Contact 2 12-16 weeks Review labs, first trimester screening,
nursing
