What is it about?

What is preconception health? Many people are not familiar with the term and there is not a definitive definition of exactly what constitutes preconception health care. This article provides a quick look at some of the resources available to assist busy health care providers in assessing the overall health of their patients. Since every practice is different, there are short tools the patient can fill out herself and there are more lengthy assessments that cover every aspect of health that could impact a future pregnancy. Look and see what might work for you.

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Why is it important?

Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, infant mortality and maternal mortality are on the rise. As healthcare providers we can make a difference.

Perspectives

Preconception health has been a major focus of my public health work over the last few years. Day in and day out I see people making unhealthy choices, review cases of infant and maternal mortality that should not have happened, and struggle with how to get the message out. Healthy People 2020 objectives were developed to address some of the alarming trends in the health status of individuals in the United States. The Life Course approach promotes the idea that what happens in utero can impact us the rest of our lives. We need to get the message out that the health choices women are making for themselves today will not only affect their health and longevity but also the health and longevity of generations to come.

Jill Nobles-Botkin

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Preconception Care Resources: Where to Start, Journal of Midwifery & Women s Health, May 2016, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.12464.
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