Human pregnancy is an extremely sensitive process involving the growth and development of a fetus into a child and the many changes that occurs in a mother's body systems. It entails not only the 9 month duration of the pregnancy itself but even before the conception happens. With this, women in the reproductive age must be educated so that they would make informed gestational and preconception choices. In order to do so they must be informed that certain pediatric chronic illnesses are linked to modifiable gestational factors including asthma, autism, allergy and open neural tube defects. There has also been a significant rise in preterm birth and postpartum depressive illness observed brought about by these modifiable factors. Adult chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, eating and metabolic disorders as well as cardiovascular disease are also associated with these factors. The modifiable gestational factors in question include nutrition, mode of delivery and exposure to harmful chemicals and toxicants.
Nutrition during pregnancy is as important as nutrition before conception. The article tackles nutritional deficiency that often causes pregnancy-related diseases. An example of this is how folate deficiency before conception and during pregnancy can result to open neural tube defects, miscarriage and Down's syndrome. Additionally, fetal sequelae due to iodine deficiency can occur in the form of hypothyroidism and intellectual disabilities. The article also discussed the 3 common micronutrient deficiencies during and before conception namely Vitamin D, Magnesium and Docosohexaenoic Acid or DHA. Regardless of these common deficiencies, it was also discussed how supplements are often riddled with toxicants so rather than relying on supplementation, healthy foods must be the source of most nutrients. This is in order to prevent pregnancy-related diseases as well as pediatric illness on the child.
The mode of delivery is also an important factor related to the mother and child's microbiome. It was discussed how babies born through Caesarian section lack the healthy microbiome found in children born through vaginal birth making them more predisposed to infection and certain diseases. With this, mothers who are undergoing Caesarian section may consider vaginal seeding in order for their children to be exposed to the necessary biomes in order to prevent consequent infections.
Exposure to harmful chemicals and toxicants is also a detrimental factor that may lead to pediatric and adult chronic illnesses. This involves not only alcohol and cigarettes but other toxicant found in the home as well. Unsuspecting women are exposed to dangerous EMR and nanoparticles that have been found to cross the placental barrier and affect the fetus resulting to chromosomal and birth consequences. With this, women of reproductive age and pregnant women must be informed that certain substances that they think are safe also poses harmful outcomes to their unborn child.
All of these manifests how even before conception there are already risks that threatens pregnancy and the health of the child after birth. While all of these may seem overwhelming to discuss to women of reproductive age, health workers must engage people within the group and provide education in order to help them make informed preconception and gestational choices.
References:
Genuis, S. J., & Genuis, R. A. (2016). Preconception Care: A New Standard of Care within Maternal Health Services. BioMed Research International, 2016, 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6150976