Increasing Pregnant Women's Knowledge of Healthy Pregnancy and Lactation Preparation through Health Education

Abstract

A healthy pregnancy and preparation for breastfeeding are crucial for improving the health of mothers and infants and supporting the success of exclusive breastfeeding. Education beginning during pregnancy is necessary to enhance the knowledge and readiness of mothers and their families. This community service activity aims to improve the knowledge of pregnant women and their families regarding healthy pregnancy and lactation preparation. The activity was conducted in person at the RW 006 Community Hall in Galur Village on June 23, 2026, through educational sessions, discussions, Q&A sessions, and evaluations using pre-tests and post-tests. The material covered healthy pregnancy, physiological changes, nutritional needs, antenatal care (ANC), warning signs of pregnancy complications, Early Breastfeeding Initiation (EBI), exclusive breastfeeding, lactation preparation, breastfeeding techniques, and management of common breastfeeding problems. The results showed that the number of participants with “good” knowledge increased from 10 (33.3%) on the pre-test to 16 (53.3%) on the post-test, while the number with “poor” knowledge decreased from 20 (66.7%) to 14 (46.7%). The average percentage of correct answers increased from 40.73% to 50.66%, or by 9.93 percentage points. The educational program demonstrated an increase in participants’ knowledge regarding healthy pregnancy and lactation preparation. Ongoing education involving families is necessary to support breastfeeding readiness and the health of both mothers and infants.