Preconceptional Care
Preconceptional care is a set of interventions that aim to identify and modify biomedical, behavioral and social risks to a woman’s health or pregnancy outcome through prevention and management. Certain steps should be taken before conception or early in pregnancy to have a maximal effect on health outcomes for the mother and baby. Preconceptional care should include the full scope of preventive and primary health care services for women before a first pregnancy or between pregnancies. These services should include risk assessment or screening and interventions including education and/or counseling and appropriate referrals.
The following should be addressed at health care visits:
- Diet/Nutrition
- Obesity
- Exercise
- Use of Folic Acid
- Smoking
- Use of drugs/medications
- Alcohol use
- Medical conditions
- Dental health
- Immunizations
- Family health
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Emotional health
- Domestic violence
- Family Planning needs
March of Dimes also provides some information regarding preconceptional care at www.modimes.com