Just as prenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care are important, having preconception care is also necessary for healthy and positive pregnancy outcomes. The CDC defines this as the care a woman or man receives from health professionals that increases the likelihood of having a healthy pregnancy and baby. Benefits from maintaining preconception health extends not only to the mother and baby but to the whole family, as this includes having a healthy lifestyle.
Emerging research now looks at modifiable environmental determinants as a source of most chronic illnesses and receiving proper preconception care can just reduce these occurrences. For instance, the chemical exposures from air, water, soil, and foodstuffs that people come in contact with daily can pose a threat to healthy human reproduction. Adverses exposures due to the occupation of women are also linked to a variety of diseases such as childhood leukemia and other neurological and cardiac abnormalities. In addition, exposure to traffic-related air pollution may increase the possibility of cardiac defects in offspring.
However, while maternal exposures play a major role in the health of the baby in the future, so does their father. It is found that chemical and electrical exposures can impact a developing child. To quote from the study of Genius & Genius, 2016, “paternal exposure to certain solvents in the year prior to conception is linked with an increased rate of childhood cancer”.
Another modifiable environmental determinant for women is their nutritional status. This must be sufficient to support a healthy pregnancy especially since nutritional deficiencies contribute to increased incidence of illnesses. For instance, folate deficiency may cause open neural tube defects, miscarriage, and Down’s syndrome.
Ensuring a healthy lifestyle before pregnancy not only includes proper diet, adequate micronutrient supplementation such as folic acid, and limiting exposure to environmental hazards but also regular exercise and managing stress. Modifying these factors and having preconception care minimizes the risk for gestational complications and childhood illnesses which may extend up to adulthood, sparing the family from economic, emotional and social costs.
REFERENCES:
CDC. (2014, August 29). Before Pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/preconception/overview.html
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