Discuss how preconception care contributes to a healthy pregnancy and positive pregnancy outcomes.
Much of the characteristics that an infant develops upon birth can be attributed not only to their fetal development during pregnancy but also to the mother’s lifestyle during pre-conception. According to Genius & Genius (2016), environmental factors play a more important role in a child’s development in the womb than genetics. They also mentioned “modification of environmental factors prior to conception offers the possibility of precluding various mental and physical health conditions” which further suggests the role of the environment in ensuring proper fetal development. Furthermore, preconception care gives emphasis on the various ways in which women can prevent complications during and after pregnancy. There are a plethora of reasons and explanations as to the contribution of preconception care in anticipating a healthy pregnancy and positive pregnancy outcomes.
Lifestyle and environment are significant factors to consider when discussing preconception care because it refers to medical care provided by a health professional for a higher possibility of conceiving a healthy baby (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). The prevention of various maternal complications has been attributed to preconception care such as reduction in maternal and child mortality, prevention of stillbirths, prevention of birth defects and neonatal infections, reduction of the occurrence of underweight and stunted babies, lowered risks of some childhood cancers, and reduced risks of vertical transmission of sexually transmitted infections like HIV. Preconception care does not only aim to address concerns and issues relating to maternal health but also various other aspects of health that eventually contribute to pregnancy conditions and outcomes. For instance, preconception care encompasses mental health wherein health education for women of childbearing age is made accessible to ensure that they become mentally capable of handling pregnancy as well as motherhood. Through this, positive pregnancy outcomes are ensured since the woman is able and equipped with the knowledge to address the challenges of pregnancy and childbirth (World Health Organization, 2013).
References:
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2020) Preconception Health. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/preconception/overview.html
Genuis, S., & Genuis, R. (2016). Preconception Care: A New Standard of Care within Maternal Health Services. Biomed Research International, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6150976
WHO (2013). Preconception care: Maximizing the gains for maternal and child health. Who.int. https://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/documents/preconception_care_policy_brief.pdf