In the article, Genuis & Genuis (2016) states that modifiable environmental factors, including insufficient intake of the required nutrients and exposure to environmental insults, are often the etiological source of problems during the gestational phase. The problems that may arise include obstetrical complications such as congenital anomalies like neural tube defects, pediatric chronic illnesses like asthma, and genetic mutations that lead to neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities such as Down’s syndrome autism.
In this regard, the way in which a prospective mother takes care of herself prior to conception as well as the condition of environment she lives in before and during pregnancy highly affect her pregnancy outcomes. Hence, preconception care, which revolves around the identification and modifications of these environmental and lifestyle factors, is taught to the patient and her partner to aid them with information about the benefits and harms that can be found in their daily environment and help them implement lifestyle changes that contribute to positive pregnancy outcomes for them and their children.
During the critical stages of pregnancy, a woman’s nutritional status must be adequate to ensure that she could meet the critical requirements for essential nutrients needed for proper formation, differentiation, and development of fetal issues. For instance, folate deficiency can have profound long-term implications such as elevated risks for neural tube defects, miscarriage, and Down’s syndrome while other micronutrient deficiencies such as Magnesium and Vitamin D insufficiencies can lead to bone health compromises and respiratory issues. Because of this, the article also mentions that rather than relying on prenatal supplements that are often contaminated with toxins, a pregnant woman must be informed that healthy foods must be the source of most nutrients during gestation.
In addition, maternal exposure to harmful chemicals and toxic substances is also a detrimental environmental factor resulting to pediatric pathophysiological disturbances like birth defects and chronic illnesses. Hence, prospective parents that consume alcohol or cigarettes must be made aware of the effects it may bring to their child once the mother has been expose to these toxicants. It is also discussed in the article that inhalation of contaminants in the air poses the largest environmental health risk for most reproductive age women, and the existence of a credible air filtration and purification where the mother lives is necessary for the health of the developing child.
Taken altogether, preconception care empowers prospective parents to make well-informed decisions and choices that could optimize not only the outcome of the pregnancy, but also the overall health and well-being of the mother and child.
Reference:
Genuis, S. J., & Genuis, R. A. (2016). Preconception Care: A New Standard of Care within Maternal Health Services. BioMed Research International, 2016, 1–30. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6150976