Discuss how preconception care contributes to healthy pregnancy and positive pregnancy outcomes. Post answers as reply in the discussion forum.
We, all, could agree that the growth and development of a fetus inside a mother’s womb is indeed extremely sensitive to harmful agents, environmental insults, and nutritional requirements. In the review article of Genius, S.J. and Genius, R.A (2016), this fetal vulnerability arises from the immaturity of fetal organs and the blood-brain barrier, inadequate levels of fetal binding proteins, and underdevelopment of the placental unit. These factors contribute to the accumulation of potential untoward effects towards the developing fetus. Preconception care, therefore, plays a significant role in ensuring optimal health of the mother and the safe delivery of a healthy infant.
According to the World Health Organization (2013), Preconception care is the “provision of biomedical, behavioral and social health interventions to women and couples before conception occurs.” Its primary goal is to improve their overall health status and eliminate environmental, behavioral, and individual factors leading to poor maternal and child health outcomes. In the review article, it was mentioned that most women do not begin to receive prenatal care until through or near the end of their first trimester. This trimester is the most crucial part of pregnancy since the fetus has started forming the beginnings of its major organs. Offering preconception care to women, and couples in general, through generalized classes in clinics or other institutions can therefore equip them with adequate knowledge to ensure optimal pregnancies. For one, sufficient information about adequate nutritional intake and the right dietary supplements can minimize risks of neural tube defects, miscarriage, and other complications. Ensuring the safety, meaning free from toxicants and contamination, of these supplements should also be instilled to the mothers to further ensure the healthy development of the fetus.
Raising awareness on the use of antibiotics around the time of conception or during pregnancy is also important as this may disrupt the normal maternal offspring microbiota exchange that may further lead to anxiety and antisocial behavior of the resulting offspring.
Systematic discussions on other lifestyle interventions are also important to achieve a healthy pregnancy and a positive pregnancy outcome. Precautionary avoidance of adverse chemical, household, vehicle, insecticide and herbicide exposures, and any other toxic elements should be raised and tackled enough as well to eradicate unwanted effects on the developing fetus. It was mentioned in the article that there are studies and recent laboratory researches on electrical exposure presenting that electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones, computers, and other electronic devices can lead to decreased cardiac output and increased heart rate of the fetus. Other studies even linked electrical exposures to increased risk of miscarriage and potential damage to neurological cells and spinal cord. Being educated about the right thing to do ahead of time can significantly reduce these negative effects.
Preconception care can significantly contribute to healthy pregnancy and positive pregnancy outcomes for it offers a wide variety of learnings, counseling, and interventions ahead of conception. Dietary and nutritional history taking, environmental exposure inventories, and toxicological testing are taken. Safe and better lifestyle and environmental choices are also laid out. Preconception care therefore provides the couple with enough time to effectively plan and address things out, and to incorporate healthy lifestyle changes for the optimal health of the pregnancy, the mother, and the future baby.
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
World Health Organization (2013). Preconception care: Maximizing the gains for maternal and child health. https://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/documents/preconception_care_policy_brief.pdf