By:
Zainab Rabiu Abubakar
RN,BNSc,MSc
By the end of this lecture,the student will
be able to:
1. Define the preconception care.
2. Verify the importance of preconception
care.
3. Understand the risks of adverse
pregnancy outcome.
4. Apply preconception care to your real
live.
Preconception preparation
Preparation for pregnancy it is positive step
towards enhancing pregnancy out come
Provide prospective parents with option that
may not be available once pregnancy
confirmed.
Nurse need to support a couple as embark
on programmed that may include
investigation diagnosis & treatment in order
to help them to conceive all of which may
impact upon their physical, psychological &
social wellbeing
1) To ensure that the woman and her partner in
an optimal state physical and emotional health
at onset of pregnancy
2)Provide prospective parents with series of
option that may not available once pregnancy
confirmed
3)the couples who do plane pregnancy could
benefit From Preconception care
The services provided by family planning clinic
processes period from 3 months to one year
before pregnancy the
time span ideal include the time when both ova
and sperm mature which approximate 100 days
before conception.
Is the promotion of the health and well-being
of a woman and her partner before pregnancy.
Preconception care is a set of interventions that
identify and modify biomedical, behavioral
and social risks to a woman's health and future
pregnancies which are aimed at both partner
achieving optimum health prior to conception.
The importance of preconception care is to
reduce adverse pregnancy outcome such as:
Maternal and infant mortality, Preterm births,
And low-birth weight infants.
Improves chances for healthy baby.
Healthy pregnancy closely related to
woman’s health before conception.
1. Smokers:
Smoke during pregnancy, contributing to
fetal addiction to nicotine.
2. Alcohol consumers & Tobacco users:
alcohol leading to fetal alcohol spectrum
disorder.
and tobacco restricts blood flow to fetus &
reduces oxygen & nutrients carried by blood.
3. Ignorance of folic acid consumption:
70% of women do not take folic acid
supplements, increasing the risk of neural
tube defects in the newborn. Taking folic acid
reduces the incidence of defects by two
thirds.
4. Obesity:
increase the risk of developing hypertension,
diabetes, and increase the need for cesarean
birth.
5. Over the counter drugs:
That are known teratogens (substances
harmful to the developing fetus).
6. Preexisting medical conditions:
Can negatively affect pregnancy if unmanaged
e.g. diabetes.
7. Women with antiepileptic drugs.
8. Autoimmune disorders.(HIV/AIDS)
vertical transmission, Treated with monotherapy
(zidovudine).
10. Rubella seronegativity:
1st trimester 50% rate of malformation,2nd
trimester 6% rate of damage If the women non-
immunized.
12. STI:
Chlamydia: Ear/eye infections, pneumonia.
Genital Herpes: Active infection for baby born
through vaginal opening with open sores – leads
to severe skin infections, nervous system damage,
blindness, mental retardation, death can occur.
Gonorrhea: Eye Infections, blindness.
Syphilis: Damage bone, lung, liver, blood vessels.
The nursing management of Preconception
care involves:
Giving protection.
Managing conditions.
Avoidingexposures known to be teratogenic or
otherwise harmful.
History:
Take a detailed history of both partners to
identify any medical or genetic conditions that
need treatment or a referral to specialists.
Reproductive health data, such as pelvic
examinations, use of contraceptives.
discover history of STIs and high-risk sexual
practices so they can be modified.
Immunization:
Ensure that the woman’s immunizations are up
to date. ( syphilis ,Tetanus, influenza vaccine,
Rubella vaccine, diphtheria and Hepatitis B).
Providing age-appropriate comprehensive
sexuality education.
Promoting safe sex practices.
Screening for STIs.
Nutrition:
Screening for anemia and diabetes, Complete a
dietary history combined with nutritional
counseling.
Calcium/zinc - beneficial for long-term health
needs & growth/development of baby.
Folic acid: protects against neural tube defects
and spina bifida. 800-1000 mcg daily during
pregnancy.
Total Calories = 2200kcal/day +30 when get
pregnant.
Daily amount for protein/minerals/vitamins: ^
60 g/day
Daily iron requirement. (15 to 30 mg)
Minerals (Ca, phos, iodine, Fe, Z) from
fruits/vegetables.
PICA: eating non-food substances. Women
with positive history of pica Interferes with
normal consumption of nutrients; causes
anemia.
fluids = 6-8 glasses water, milk, juices.
Stress reduction:
Planning pregnancy can be stressful.
Relaxation & deep breathing should be
exercised .
Stress reduction enhances chances of
conception.
Excessive stress can lead to premature birth &
low birth weight. Sleep 8-10 hrs.with frequent
rest periods a day.
Identifywork environment and any needed
changes to promote health(psychological
issues).
Gather information regarding exercise and
lifestyle practices to encourage daily exercise
for well-being.
Environmental Reproductive Hazards:
Avoid unnecessary environmental risks at
home/work:
X-rays, Radioactive materials, cat waste
(toxoplasmosis).
smoking & tobacco use:
Screening of women and men for tobacco use
(smoking and smokeless tobacco). and
advising about harm of second-hand smoke
and harmful effects on pregnant women .
Providing brief tobacco cessation advice,
(including nicotine replacement therapy, if
available) and intensive behavioral counseling
services.
Review family medical & genetic history & Practice
STD risk-reduction behaviors.
Avoid tobacco, alcohol, illicit/street drugs, chemical
exposure.
Assess financial status.
Be supportive of partner & Play active role in pre-
pregnancy planning.
Thank You
