Preconception care promotes the idea that prevention is better than cure, but this specifically focuses on the maternal health of all women of reproductive age. To begin, the article discussed the topic of the ongoing growth in pediatric chronic disease. According to Genuis (2010), as cited in the article, chronic disease has surpassed infectious disease as the leading cause of pediatric illness. S. Genuis and R. Genuis (2016) added that it is becoming increasingly evident that modifiable prenatal factors may be critical indicators in many of these health problems. As a result, preconception care seeks to advance its case and give resolution to the mentioned problem earlier.
The main objective of preconception care is to contribute to a healthy pregnancy and positive pregnancy outcomes by primarily educating and providing precautions to all women of reproductive age about what they need to practice or incorporate into their lifestyle as well as avoid in order to reduce the occurrences of obstetrical and fetal health problems. The concepts that are specifically being taught from preconception care include the necessary requirements for a healthy pregnancy and infant (i.e., Vitamin D, Magnesium, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and Healthy Biome), things to be avoided for a healthy pregnancy and infant (i.e., chemical exposures, electrical exposures, and some emerging exposures of concerns), the economic, emotional, and social costs of preventable gestational complication that aims to enlighten all women about the current issues with maternal health, and the practical application of preconception care.
Furthermore, based on the article, providing prenatal care during the preconception period is more beneficial than during the conception period itself due to several reasons: (1) receiving the prenatal care only through or near the end of the first trimester increases the risk of developing fetal health problems because, at this time, much of the critical development has already occurred as the fetus has formed the beginnings of all of its major organs; (2) if they are gauged with vital information prior to conception, their ability to plan and prepare is escalated; (3) there are particular interventions that are not allowed during conception such as certain immunizations, detoxifications, among others, which are also interventions that can optimize the outcome of the pregnancy; and (4) for people who have certain medical conditions and are taking certain drugs, it may require significant amounts of time for them before prepared for conception.
Overall, due to the rise of maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates, preconception care was formulated and advanced to address this issue by providing education to all women of childbearing age. As Ian Donald says, “The first 38 weeks of life spent in the allegedly protected environment of the amniotic sac are medically more eventful and more fraught with danger than the next 38 years in the life span of most human individuals.”, hence, the conception period needs to be thoroughly monitored to ensure the safety of the developing child.
References:
Genuis. (2010). Evolution in pediatric health care. Pediatrics International, 52(4), 640–643.
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