Periconception care: optimal health before pregnacy for healthy pregnancy and safe delivery
Posted by in 1008 on 26-12-2009
Dr Sowmya Padmanabhan asked:
In the 21st century, optimal obstetric care would include the services of an obstetrician several months prior to conception for periconception care as soon as a couple is planning for pregnancy. Periconception care is care a woman of child bearing age receives before pregnancy or in between pregnancies. By getting preconception health care a woman can learn what steps she can take before pregnancy to protect her health and give her baby the best chance to be healthy.
It is very important that the consulting obstetrician, prior to pregnancy, improves the outcome of the pregnancy both for the mother and the baby. Potential problems can be identified and adequate medical treatment carried out before conception in order to ensure that the couple experiences a happy result.
It is gainsaying the fact that planned pregnancies have better outcomes than unplanned and accidental pregnancies. Promoting good health and healthy lifestyles prior to pregnancy are crucial among all couples planning on raising a family.
The advantages of periconception care are evident in many conditions such as Diabetes Mellitus, Phenyl Ketonuria, and previous pregnancy with a foetus with a neural tube defect. Folic acid supplementation and smoking cessation are known to result in significant improvement in obstetric condition.
What is Periconception Care?
Periconception care begins when the couple planning a pregnancy go for counseling sessions with the health care provider. An Obstetrician and Gynaecologist is best suited to provide periconception support.
The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist evaluates the health status of the prospective parents. To establish the following:
The woman and man are in their best health and practice healthy lifestyles before conception. The couple is aware that pre-conception, conception, pregnancy, birth and child rearing are continuous processes in which earlier events affect the present and the future The genetic history of the family is reviewed. Some conditions occur
more often in certain families for instance diabetes, high blood pressure, seizures, mental retardation ,bloods clot and certain birth defects. Carrier screening for sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia, tay-sach’s disease, cystic fibrosis etc can be undertaken depending on the ethnic background.
Genetic counseling can help couples find out their chances of having a child with birth defect. On the basis of prior pregnancy outcomes and other gynecological issues the planned pregnancy can be safeguarded with adequate precaution and prior treatment. The counselor can advise on living environment, diet, weight and ongoing medication. This will include: limiting caffeine, avoiding overdose of vitamin A, screening for domestic violence, types of household chemicals, smoking cessation, avoidance of secondary smoking, screening for alcoholism, screening for illegal drug use. Fertility review of the couple may also be included Assessment of the prospective father’s medical history is also carried out. This involves ***** analysis, counseling for the avoidance of alcohol, smoking and other avoidable substances. His exposure to medically harmful environment is also checked. For instance exposure to chemicals in photography solvents, heavy metals like lead, mercury and pesticides can damage *****.
Periconception, Medical Examination and Testing
Testing for Diabetes Mellitus, high blood pressure seizures cystic fibrosis Phenyl Ketonuria. Sexually transmitted diseases – diseases that spread by sexual contact such as Chlamydia, gonorrhea ,genital warts ,herpes , syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus. Women in reproductive years should have immunization as routine part of preventive care. DPT, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, human papiloma virus, chicken pox, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza and pneumococcal vaccine. These are given as needed based on risk factors.
CONCLUSION
Becoming a parent is a major commitment filled with many challenges,rewards and choices. Making healthy choices before pregnancy is an important step to a healthy and happy pregnancy.
In this age of information technology and technological advancement, every couple planning a family must ensure they undergo periconceptual counselling and treatment so that they will populate nations with healthy and happy citizens.
In the 21st century, optimal obstetric care would include the services of an obstetrician several months prior to conception for periconception care as soon as a couple is planning for pregnancy. Periconception care is care a woman of child bearing age receives before pregnancy or in between pregnancies. By getting preconception health care a woman can learn what steps she can take before pregnancy to protect her health and give her baby the best chance to be healthy.
It is very important that the consulting obstetrician, prior to pregnancy, improves the outcome of the pregnancy both for the mother and the baby. Potential problems can be identified and adequate medical treatment carried out before conception in order to ensure that the couple experiences a happy result.
It is gainsaying the fact that planned pregnancies have better outcomes than unplanned and accidental pregnancies. Promoting good health and healthy lifestyles prior to pregnancy are crucial among all couples planning on raising a family.
The advantages of periconception care are evident in many conditions such as Diabetes Mellitus, Phenyl Ketonuria, and previous pregnancy with a foetus with a neural tube defect. Folic acid supplementation and smoking cessation are known to result in significant improvement in obstetric condition.
What is Periconception Care?
Periconception care begins when the couple planning a pregnancy go for counseling sessions with the health care provider. An Obstetrician and Gynaecologist is best suited to provide periconception support.
The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist evaluates the health status of the prospective parents. To establish the following:
The woman and man are in their best health and practice healthy lifestyles before conception. The couple is aware that pre-conception, conception, pregnancy, birth and child rearing are continuous processes in which earlier events affect the present and the future The genetic history of the family is reviewed. Some conditions occur
more often in certain families for instance diabetes, high blood pressure, seizures, mental retardation ,bloods clot and certain birth defects. Carrier screening for sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia, tay-sach’s disease, cystic fibrosis etc can be undertaken depending on the ethnic background.
Genetic counseling can help couples find out their chances of having a child with birth defect. On the basis of prior pregnancy outcomes and other gynecological issues the planned pregnancy can be safeguarded with adequate precaution and prior treatment. The counselor can advise on living environment, diet, weight and ongoing medication. This will include: limiting caffeine, avoiding overdose of vitamin A, screening for domestic violence, types of household chemicals, smoking cessation, avoidance of secondary smoking, screening for alcoholism, screening for illegal drug use. Fertility review of the couple may also be included Assessment of the prospective father’s medical history is also carried out. This involves ***** analysis, counseling for the avoidance of alcohol, smoking and other avoidable substances. His exposure to medically harmful environment is also checked. For instance exposure to chemicals in photography solvents, heavy metals like lead, mercury and pesticides can damage *****.
Periconception, Medical Examination and Testing
Testing for Diabetes Mellitus, high blood pressure seizures cystic fibrosis Phenyl Ketonuria. Sexually transmitted diseases – diseases that spread by sexual contact such as Chlamydia, gonorrhea ,genital warts ,herpes , syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus. Women in reproductive years should have immunization as routine part of preventive care. DPT, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, human papiloma virus, chicken pox, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza and pneumococcal vaccine. These are given as needed based on risk factors.
CONCLUSION
Becoming a parent is a major commitment filled with many challenges,rewards and choices. Making healthy choices before pregnancy is an important step to a healthy and happy pregnancy.
In this age of information technology and technological advancement, every couple planning a family must ensure they undergo periconceptual counselling and treatment so that they will populate nations with healthy and happy citizens.
