Preconception care is a set of interventions that all women of childbearing age should perform even before they become pregnant, as there is emerging evidence that women's and men's health as well as their lifestyle choices prior to conception can possibly affect pregnancy outcomes. Recent studies have shown that modifiable environmental determinants, rather than the individual’s genetic makeup, are the key causative factors of most chronic illnesses affecting not only children but also adolescents and adults. They have concluded that it is possible to prevent certain medical illnesses such as physical and mental health issues by modifying such environmental factors prior to conception.
Apparently, these factors can have a major short- and long-term impact on health and well-being. It appears that the whole pregnancy process as well as the body systems that facilitate the growth and development of the fetus inside a mother's womb are particularly sensitive to nutritional requirements and vulnerable to environmental disturbances. A lack of essential nutrients or minor unfavorable environmental exposures during vital stages of development might have substantial and life-long consequences. Certain dietary deficiencies, for instance, have been linked to an increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down's syndrome, and exposure to chemicals has been associated with genome instability and an increased risk of unique genetic abnormalities.
The growing child in the womb is extremely vulnerable and sensitive, as most harmful substances that the mother's body can tolerate may harm her child's actively expanding tissues as most of the fetal body parts including the liver are still immature or not yet fully developed to filter or process the toxicants. For instance, alcohol consumption does not appear to harm the pregnant mother, but it can significantly influence the fetus inside. It improves the probability of a miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight in the newborn child.
The nutritional status of a woman, on the other hand, must be sufficient to sustain a healthy pregnancy. Mothers can get the nutrients they need through eating nutritious foods and taking micronutrient supplements. However, it is very important to be cautious when taking different kinds of supplements as some typical prenatal supplements intended to prevent nutrient deficiency have recently been found to contain toxicants.
To sum up, all women of childbearing age should engage in preconception care to improve not only pregnancy outcomes but also their overall health by managing and alleviating risk factors that influence pregnancy outcomes and also for future generations to have better health outcomes and avoid having these preventable diseases. Moreover, the vulnerability of the baby to harmful substances and sensitivity to nutritional requirements should always be taken into consideration.
References:
Genuis, S. J., & Genuis, R.A. (2016). Preconception care: A new standard of care within maternal health services. BioMed Research International. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6150976
Tydén T. (2016). Why is preconception health and care important? Upsala journal of medical sciences, 121(4), 207. https://doi.org/10.1080/03009734.2016.1211776