JOPNN (2014) 1-11 © JournalsPub 2014. All Rights Reserved Page 1 International Journal of Obstetrics, Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing Vol. 1: Issue 1 www.journalspub.com A Descriptive Study to Assess the ‘Birth Preparedness’ in Third Trimester of Pregnancy among Antenatal Mothers in a Low Income Group Colony Kanika Bhatia, Kalpana Khadwal, Jyotsna Verma, Jyoti Sharma, Jobanpreet Kaur, Sushma Kumari Saini*, Suresh Kumar Bamania *National Institute of Nursing Education, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India Abstract A study was taken to assess the ‘Birth Preparedness’ in third trimester antenatal mothers of low income group colony. Two types of performas were used in the study i.e. survey performa and interview schedule. A survey performa to identify and register antenatal mothers of third trimester was used. After validation nine questions were added to the standardized tool. Total enumeration sampling technique was used and total 65 third trimester antenatal mothers were interviewed. Method used for data collection was house to house survey. The findings of the study revealed that two third (64.7%) of antenatal mothers were moderately prepared. Most of the antenatal mothers comply with the WHO’s recommendations which includes registration of pregnancy in first trimester, more than three antenatal visits, receiving complete doses of TT injection, lab tests, taking iron and folic acid supplements, most of them had adequate knowledge about birth control measures and institutional delivery. They were having partial knowledge of danger signs of antenatal period, postnatal period and of new born. Similarly they had partial knowledge regarding care after normal vaginal delivery, caesarean section, breastfeeding, essential care of new born and immunisation schedule. The study shows that there is moderate ‘Birth Preparedness’ and suggested that there is a need for providing knowledge to the antenatal mothers about ‘Birth Preparedness’ through counselling, health melas and adding information about birth preparedness in antenatal card. Keywords: Birth preparedness, third trimester, antenatal mothers, low income group *Author for Correspondence E-mail: sushmadr_saini@yahoo.com INTRODUCTION For a woman motherhood is an honour and this honour is associated with responsibility. It is a special period in women’s life, though the process of becoming mother is natural but not problem free. It demands special care, attention and regular monitoring of mother and the growing foetus throughout the pregnancy, during child birth and post natal period. Regular monitoring, care and guidance during antenatal period result in healthy mother and healthy baby. Through efficient reproductive health services there is need to empower the women to take care of herself during this special period of child bearing. To achieve this goal it is important that every mother should be prepared for normal delivery, readiness to deal with complications, postnatal and new born care. It is a strategy to promote the timely use of skilled maternal care especially during childbirth, based on theory that preparing for childbirth reduces the delays in obtaining care. It also helps ensure that women can reach at the