Chronic illnesses are not brought about by misfortune and are for the most part, preventable. It is a combination of both genetics and environmental factors with the latter causing 70-90% of illnesses. With two main considerations in environmental factors: receive the necessity and avoid toxicity. In utero, infants depend on the diet of the mother; however, a sufficient intake for the mother does not equate to a fulfillment of nutritional needs for the baby. Especially with recent studies on social and food production changes that surround diet. For example, there have been changes in human food consumption with food produce having less nutritional value or containing possibly toxic substances. Several in utero conditions put a fetus in varying levels of vulnerability. Not all teratogenic compounds are filtered by the placenta and the blood-brain barrier is easily penetrated by toxic compounds. Organs that are supposedly responsible for detoxification and waste elimination are underdeveloped. To further this, there is re-uptake of harmful substances urinated by the infant due to immature excretion pathways.
Preconception care can not only lessen negative clinical manifestations to infants but also help prevent psychological conditions in mothers. Generally, illnesses in infants cause increased healthcare expenses. Additionally, the economic demands of caring for children with acute or chronic illnesses put mother at increased risk for postpartum depressive disorder. Through proper client education, particularly for parent/s planning for pregnancy, healthy pregnancy and positive pregnancy outcomes can be achieved. It can lessen healthcare costs and hospital stay. For chronic illnesses, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) can be avoided or delayed. A strong foundation in preconception care knowledge can provide parent/s with carefully considered food, occupation, and environmental choices. The following are concepts that maternal health professionals must be equipped with:
- Better or cleaner home and workplace environment are crucial in maintaining mother and fetus health. Chemicals in every day household items, in the air we breathe and even in food are not easily avoidable. This coupled with the maternal occupational conditions; for example, in jobs that require a person to be exposed to solvents.
- Electromagnetic radiation, especially in an era of technological advancements in handheld gadgets have been found to cause behavioral disorders to children.
- Careful considerations in food choices. While still somehow underexplored, there evidences that point to herbicide and pesticide use to neurological and cardiovascular disorders
- Changes in food production. Recently several studies have shown the presence of nanoplastics (nano particles) in fish and in other foodstuffs.
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