Discuss how preconception care contributes to a healthy pregnancy and positive pregnancy outcomes.
Providing preconception care is vital to positive pregnancy outcomes. Though there have been advances in maternal-foetal medicine, multiple health concerns have also emerged. For example, higher preterm births, increasing Caesarean delivery, diabetes affecting reproductive-aged women, escalating postpartum depression, and higher chronic illness in offspring, all of which results in health sequelae that can become a barrier to the healthy development of a foetus and infant. Research has shown that these health issues are linked with modifiable gestational determinants, which goes to show that healthcare providers can improve the outcomes by recognising these determinants and implementing a multifaceted approach in caring for reproductive-aged women.
A woman bearing a child must have optimal health before, during, and after her pregnancy. However, in the journal written by Genuis & Genuis, emphasis was placed on the care provided to the mother before conception as it is crucial to the development of the foetus. They recognised that though women receive prenatal care during their first trimester, this is insufficient as the health of the mother before conception has already influenced the beginnings of foetal development. It should, therefore, be recognised that the health of the mother before conceiving is an equally important stage of prenatal development as the other stages of pregnancy because it is yet to be included in the standard care of reproductive health.
Recognising environmental determinants contributing to maternal-foetal complications also ensures a healthy pregnancy. In doing so, mothers can avoid exposure to certain environmental factors (e.g. teratogenic agents, solvents, paints, petroleum products, food choices, EMR) which are all associated with other health issues. Families can also take precautionary measures when better informed of the possible effects of different environmental factors on the development of the foetus.
The mother’s nutritional status is also pivotal to a positive pregnancy outcome. Without sufficient nutrition provided to the foetus, the health of the offspring is negatively affected. For example, a folate deficiency results in a higher risk for open neural tube defects, a miscarriage, and the likelihood of Down’s syndrome. Though physicians would rely on supplements to avoid deficiency, it should be acknowledged that its use also includes a risk of introducing contaminants to the developing foetus. As such, healthcare professionals must have the skills to identify signs and symptoms indicating deficiency and implement the appropriate interventions to prevent complications. They should also educate their patients on how to eat a balanced and nutritious meal whilst considering the patient’s socioeconomic status. In this way, a sustainable care plan allows the family to support the needs of their child within their financial capacity.
According to the survey conducted in the article, only a handful of healthcare professionals include preconception care in their reproductive health checkups. Considering that there are medical advances and a plethora of resources available, it is questionable that healthcare practitioners fail to provide holistic care to reproductive-aged women. It should be noted that the burden of ensuring positive pregnancy outcomes does not rely solely on healthcare professionals; we can only influence it by educating our patients about the possible risk of environmental factors and what they can do to optimise the development of the foetus.
To summarise, preconception care should be included within the standard care of reproductive health as it is equally important as the other stages of pregnancy. But, an ameliorated multifaceted approach to preconception care allows for a more sustainable solution to the emerging reproductive issues. In this way, the burden of increasing the positive outcomes of pregnancies does not rely solely on the healthcare system.
Reference:
Genuis, S. J., & Genuis, R. A. (2016, May 29). Preconception care: A new standard of care within maternal health services. BioMed Research International. Retrieved February 14, 2022, from https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2016/6150976/