14/06/2021
Preconception care simply refers to a set of interventions aimed at identifying and modifying biomedical, behavioral and social risk to a woman's health or pregnancy. In a lay mans term it is the care a woman receives before she gets pregnant.
Preconception care is very important in the life of a couple as it ;
*Prevent still and preterm birth.
* Prevents low birth weight as well as birth defects.
*Prevents neonatal infections .
*Prevents vertical transmission of HIV/STDs.
Preconception care has 4 components which includes.
1.Physical Assessment: where the woman's anthropometric measurements (B.M.I).will be taken. This is because women who are overweight or obese do have problems when they get pregnant.
Also biochemical assessment wi be done here ( where it will be checked if the woman has anaemia diabetes or any medical condition that might affect the pregnancy)..The blood type and rhesus will.be checked as well.
2.Risk Assessment:Here chromosomal or genetic disorder in the family will be checked and looked into .Also any history of depression or psychosocial stress will be looked into and intervened upon. Again sexually transmitted diseases are tested for and managed to minimize it's chances of crossing the placenta barrier to affect the baby. STDs like Gonorrhoea can cause sudden blindness in a baby and it is therefore imperative to be tested for.
3. Vaccination:This is done to protect the woman against any vaccine preventable diseases.As some diseases like varicella can cross the placenta barrier to affect the baby.
4. Counselling: Over the counter drugs are discouraged as some may be teratogenic ( cause harm to the baby).Also exposure to radiations and other toxins tagst may harm the woman and the baby are discouraged.
All these investigations are done even before a couple plans to have children.With all these done the couple are assured of a safe pregnancy and delivery and of course a healthy baby free from birth defects.