Antenatal check-ups
Register at the nearest health facility as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed. Carry your Mother and Child Protection (MCP) card to every visit and to the place where you will give birth.
| Check-up | When |
|---|---|
| First | As soon as you miss a period, or within the first three months |
| Second | 4th to 6th month |
| Third | 7th to 8th month |
| Fourth | 9th month |
At each visit your (a test for anaemia), , urine, weight and tummy are checked, to see how you and the baby are doing. Four is the minimum, so go more often if your doctor asks you to. Plan ahead too: decide where you will give birth, how you will get there, and who could give blood in an emergency.
Eating well, and iron and folic acid
Eat a variety of local, seasonal foods every day. Good choices are:
- Milk, curd, buttermilk and paneer, for calcium and protein
- Dal, pulses, whole grains and cereals, for protein
- Green leafy vegetables, which are rich in iron and folic acid, and fresh fruit and vegetables, for vitamins
- Nuts and jaggery, which give iron, and sesame seeds, which give calcium
- Eggs, chicken, meat or fish, if you eat them, for protein, vitamins and iron
Iron and folic acid (IFA) tablets help to prevent anaemia in the mother and help the baby to be healthy. Take one every day starting from the fourth month of pregnancy, as your health worker advises. If you are anaemic, the doctor may advise more. If the tablets upset your stomach, tell your health worker rather than stopping them.
Activity and rest
Gentle regular activity keeps you fit, prepares your body for birth and recovery, may lower the risk of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, and can improve sleep and mood. A guide is about 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, in short sessions if you prefer. Any activity is better than none.
- Walking, swimming and yoga are good choices. If you have not been active, begin with about 10 minutes a day and build up.
- You should be able to talk, but not sing, while you are active.
- Drink water, wear clothes that keep you cool, and do not exercise on an empty stomach.
- Avoid sports with a risk of falls or knocks to the tummy, and do not lie flat on your back for more than a few minutes in later pregnancy.
- Sleep for 8 hours at night and rest for 2 hours in the day. Lie on your left side.
If you have a health problem, or your pregnancy has been called high risk, ask your doctor which activities are safe for you.
What to do and what to avoid
Do
- Wash your hands with soap and water before every meal and after using the toilet, and keep your nails short.
- Cook meat, fish and eggs thoroughly.
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are pregnant before you take any medicine, including herbal and home remedies.
Do not
- Alcohol in any amount. It is safest to avoid it completely.
- Smoking, and other people's smoke. If you use tobacco in any form, ask a doctor for help to stop.
- Liver and liver products, which contain a lot of vitamin A that can harm the baby.
- Unpasteurised milk and dairy products, which can carry germs (listeria) that may cause miscarriage, stillbirth or serious illness in the newborn.
- Raw or undercooked meat, fish and eggs.
- Hard physical work and lifting heavy weights.
- A lot of caffeine from tea, coffee, cola and energy drinks.
Vaccines
In India the tetanus and diphtheria (Td) is given in pregnancy to protect both mother and baby. The first dose is given early in pregnancy and the second four weeks later. If you have already had two Td doses and become pregnant again within three years, a single booster dose is given instead. Your health worker will tell you what applies to you.
Ask your doctor or health worker before you have any other vaccine in pregnancy.
Warning signs: get care at once
Also see a doctor or your health worker promptly for burning when you pass urine, a lot of nausea and vomiting, fainting, constant weakness, tiredness or breathlessness (which can mean anaemia), or high found at a check-up.
Myths and facts
Things people often say about this. Open each one to see what is true.
Myth“A pregnant woman should rest as much as possible and not exercise.”What is true?
Fact
Gentle regular activity such as walking, swimming or yoga is good for most pregnant women. It helps you keep fit and prepares the body for birth. If you have a health problem, ask your doctor which activities suit you.
Myth“Iron and folic acid tablets are bad for the baby or make delivery harder.”What is true?
Fact
These tablets help to prevent anaemia in the mother and support a healthy baby. If they upset your stomach, tell your health worker instead of stopping them.
Myth“An occasional drink is fine in pregnancy.”What is true?
Fact
Alcohol can cause long-term harm to the baby, so it is safest to avoid it completely.
Common questions
How many check-ups do I need in pregnancy?
The national programme calls four check-ups essential: in the first three months, then in the 4th to 6th month, the 7th to 8th month and the 9th month. Four is the minimum, so go more often if your doctor advises it.
Is it safe to exercise while I am pregnant?
For most women, gentle activity such as walking, swimming and yoga is safe and good for you. Start slowly, stay cool and drink water, and stop if you feel unwell. If you have a health problem, ask your doctor which activities are safe.
Which vaccine do I need in pregnancy?
In India the tetanus and diphtheria vaccine (Td) is given in pregnancy. It protects both you and the newborn. Ask your doctor or health worker about any other vaccine before you have it.
What should I do if my baby is moving less?
Contact your health worker or go to a hospital straight away. A baby moving less than usual, or not moving, is one of the warning signs that need care at once. Do not wait to see whether it improves.