Discuss how preconception care contributes to healthy pregnancy and positive pregnancy outcomes. Post answers as reply in the discussion forum.
There is currently an increasing number of studies showing that pediatric affliction brought by various obstetrical complications, pediatric chronic diseases, and genetic mutations are caused by two major etiological determinants: (1) deficiency of various nutrients and (2) exposure to assorted toxicants; however, more and more evidence show that modification of these environmental factors through preconception care significantly contributes to healthy pregnancy and positive pregnancy outcomes. Because of this, preconception care has gained recognition as a new standard of care within maternal health services.
As mentioned earlier, one of the etiological factors contributing to widespread maternal and/or pediatric compromise is gestational nutritional deficiencies, along with insufficiency of optimal biome development in the neonate. In order to support a healthy pregnancy, the mother must have adequate nutritional status; otherwise, it can have a dramatic effect on the incidence of illness in her offspring. For instance, folate deficiency can increase the risk for neural tube defects, miscarriages, and Down’s syndrome.
In the article, it was stated that the most common micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant women are (1) vitamin D deficiency, (2) magnesium deficiency, and (3) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) deficiency. According to literature, vitamin D insufficiency may be associated with first trimester pregnancy loss, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia, among others. It has also been proven that insufficient magnesium intake has myriad potential health consequences including asthma, cardiovascular disease, and mental health problems, while inadequate DHA has been linked to preterm labor, pregnancy induced hypertension, and postpartum depression in women.
Moreover, evidence shows that transmission of a healthy microbiome to the neonate during vaginal delivery may affect health from birth to adulthood. Moreover, it is evident that infants delivered after a long labor with a dilated cervix may be exposed to a different microbial environment compared to a child born by elective Cesarean delivery. This is why there is an increasing interest in a novel technique called “vaginal seeding,” which is the practice of wiping a baby’s mouth, face, and skin with its mother’s vaginal fluids after C-section to transfer vaginal microbes to the baby to help establish the baby’s own microbiome to promote good health and fight disease.
The other etiological factor considered in the article is gestational exposure as a result of the chemical revolution and the expanding electrical revolution. For instance, toxic exposures, often from airborne sources at home or from vehicles during pregnancy, have been associated with pediatric allergy, decreased IQ, and infectious disease, among others. Moreover, maternal occupations involving exposure to air pollution places offspring at higher risk for cardiac defects and other major birth abnormalities. Furthermore, consumption of foods that have higher amounts of chemical residue (e.g. insecticide and herbicide) is linked to neurological and cardiovascular problems, while exposure to toxic elements and contaminated prenatal supplements have been linked in offspring to impaired cognition, small for gestational age, and infant neurotoxicity, among others.
Electromagnetic radiation (EMR), which remains generally unrecognized in gestational care, can be in the form of energy fields emitted by wireless systems, power lines, various electronic devices, and ubiquitous mobile and cell phones. EMR has been associated with increased fetal heart rate, decreased cardiac output, and significant decrease in birth weight. It has also been proven that it has the potential to damage or destroy neurological cells. However, aside from chemical and electrical exposure, emerging exposures of concern such as paternal exposures, nanoparticles, and genetically modified foods have also been shown to have negative effects to the health of the pregnant mothers and their offspring.
Given the wide range of etiological factors that pose a threat to both the pregnant mother and her growing offspring, it is of vital importance to realize that many of the maternal and fetal problems are often related to modifiable gestational determinants and can be prevented in many cases by informed preconception care which includes secure food health and safety, secure maternal and fetal sufficiency, precautionary avoidance of adverse chemical exposure, and precautionary avoidance of electromagnetic radiation. Given the increasing number of studies supporting the potential to modify disease-causing gestational determinants, it is an undeniable fact that members of the healthcare community should be held accountable if ever they fail to implement necessary precautionary education on preconception care.
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