الفهرس 
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Abstract
The term self care pregnancy means a person’s ability to undertake self-care requisites or needs for preserving health and well-being. The Aim of the present study is to; identify pregnant women self-care practices in early pregnancy. Subjects and methods The descriptive study was conducted at 6 MCH and 2 hospitals affiliated to the different available health organization in Mansoura city, and a total of (350) antenatal care users were recruited for this study, women were less than 20 weeks gestation and having normal pregnancy. Tools of data collection include; an interviewing schedule, self-care practices to meet pregnant women’s universal requisites and health deviation from normal and self-care practices to meet pregnant women’s developmental requisites. Results: The finding of the current study revealed that the majority of women lacked basic and essential knowledge about antenatal care. Thus more than two thirds (68.0%) had a bath twice weekly, and (78.0%) washed their breasts with soap and water, and (55.6%) brushed their teeth with water only. Suitable clothes were used by only (53.4%), and (46.0%) had insufficient hours for night sleep, while, 41.4% consumed adequate diet. However, the majority (77.4%) of the studied group had been immunized against tetanus during the current pregnancy. As for minor discomforts of pregnancy 58.6% had morning sickness and 37.1% suffered from constipation as well as insomnia 58.6% and heaviness of the breasts (38.0%). Both traditional, harmful and harmless practices were used in coping with these discomforts. Conclusion: women were lacking essential and basic knowledge about physiological and psychological adaptation to pregnancy and consequently their self-care requisites and health deviations from normal and how to cope these discomforts. Recommendations: Nurses should be trained in counseling pregnant women about their needs and self care management and encouraged to use information guide as a good educational tool in counseling them.