As medicine and science continue to progress, we begin to understand more on the emerging concerns in the area of maternal-fetal medicine. The article reveals that prenatal factors, such as nutrient deficiency and toxic exposure are major etiological determinants of obstetrical complications and pediatric chronic diseases. This knowledge then reinforces the need to guide the clients in understanding the need for environmental and lifestyle modification necessary to optimize the health of women and their children.
Pre-conception care refers to the care of women prior to their conceiving a child which aims to optimize their health during pregnancy and the health of their future children (Genuis & Genuis, 2016). Providing pre-conception care allows women to make informed choices important for the betterment of her pregnancy and health. In preconception care, precautionary actions and identification and modification of risks are done to address the problem of modifiable disease-causing gestational determinants and preventable illnesses among children.
With all these in mind, pre-conception care is indeed essential to reduce, if not eliminate, the threats of pregnancy and the risks to the health of both the mother and the child. Pre-conception care also contributes to positive pregnancy outcomes as such individualized care interventions involve improving and strengthening a client’s environmental, emotional, and physical experiences, making their pregnancy holistically well and safe.
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. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6150976