Resumo (EN)
Objective – To identify and describe pregnant women's knowledge about prenatal period at a public maternity in Bahia. Pregnancy is an unique event in the life of each woman and it need an effective care during prenatal period. Methods – Qualitative and descriptive studies, in which ten primigravida were interviewed according to the inclusion criteria and based on a semi-structured script, in July, 2009. The interviews were recorded on audio tapes, transcribed and decoded according to Bardin's content analysis. Results – It demonstrates that the baby was seen as the main focus of prenatal care, and that the interviewed women had no information about the physiological and psychological changes that occur during pregnancy, sexual rest, they didn't know about exclusive breastfeeding guidelines, and they evidenced fear and uncertainty about the labor. However, they knew that proper nutrition and physical exercise would favor a healthy pregnancy. Conclusion –The implementation of welcoming character assistance is required, as well as humane education and health services to involve pregnant women in all care dimensions.