What is the primary purpose of antenatal care?

The primary purpose of antenatal care is to monitor fetal growth and health. This type of care is essential throughout pregnancy as it involves regular check-ups and medical assessments aimed at ensuring both the mother and the developing fetus are healthy. It includes various tests and screenings to detect any potential issues early, enabling timely interventions if necessary. Monitoring fetal growth is crucial as it helps to assess the well-being of the fetus and the effectiveness of the mother's health management during pregnancy.

While checking maternal nutrition, preparing for labor and delivery, and providing postnatal support are important aspects of maternal and child health, they represent different stages or components of care. Maternal nutrition is part of ensuring optimal fetal health but is not the sole focus of antenatal care. Preparing for labor and delivery is a culmination of antenatal support, while postnatal support occurs after the baby is born. Thus, the core function of antenatal care remains centered on the monitoring of fetal development and overall health during pregnancy.