What may seem to be of low impact to the well-being of the pregnant woman may be harmful to that of the child inside the womb. As explained in the article, modifiable environmental and prenatal factors in the gestation period is the one that determines diseases of the child and not just because of bad luck in the “cosmic genetic roulette”. This has been proven through various studies wherein a lot of chronic illnesses and developmental diseases has been linked to harmful practices the mother partakes due to deficiency of essential nutrients or the mother’s lifestyle during pregnancy.
When it comes to nutrition, it is the mother’s responsibility to have sufficient nutrient intake since it secures proper development of the baby in utero. With this, the mother must always take prenatal supplements (which are not contaminated with toxicants) and healthy food for the baby. Aside from the mother’s nutritional intake, it is important that the baby must be having a healthy environment or healthy biome. An example of this is the inhalation of air contaminants which is a common source of accumulation of toxins. Air contaminants in the household must be used in moderation since toxic exposure may lead to different types of outcomes such as respiratory illness, autism, congenital defects and many more.
Engaging in preconception care results in having better well-being for both the child and the mother. These preparations will indeed provide solutions to various threats and likewise decrease the chances of the child to have disease.
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