Preconception Health and Care: A Life Course Approach

Professor Jill Shawe is a clinical academic nurse/midwife in the Institute of Health & Community at the University of Plymouth, UK, with extensive experience of working in higher education and in clinical women’s health care.  Jill’s PhD focused on improving pregnancy outcomes for women with diabetes and she has developed a Programme of Research and Education in Periconception Care (PREPARE).  The programme aims to improve the health of women with medical conditions and their partners, before and between pregnancies and collaborates with colleagues across Europe. Professor Eric A.P. Steegers is a gynaecologist and head of the department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. His current research interests relate to the pathophysiology of suboptimal embryonic development and malplacentation in the first trimester and the consequences for fetal and maternal health as well as disease in later life. New knowledge from translational research in these areas is being disseminated and translated in evidence-based local and national transmural preconception and early pregnancy programs for improved risk selection and general and personalized interventions with a special emphasis on high risk and socially deprived reproductive target groups.  Professor Sarah Verbiest, DrPH, MSW, MPH is a public health social worker and the director of two Institutes at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Her work focuses on research, coalition building, teaching, policy, equity and professional training to promote intergenerational approaches to improve health outcomes for families. She is the senior advisor to the national Preconception Health and Health Care Initiative, providing leadership across the US to advance preconception wellness. She recently edited a book titled Making Change Happen: Moving Life Course Theory into Action from APHA Press.

• Forward.- Introduction.- Chapter 1. Definitions, background, history, challenges and opportunities (global perspectives).- Chapter 2. Epigenetics, Embryology, Preconception science, Periconception, Sperm health.- Chapter 3. Lifestyle: behavioural health, alcohol, tobacco, substance use.- Chapter 4. Lifestyle: weight (obesity, overweight, underweight).- Chapter 5. Chronic conditions: risk assessment, diabetes, cardiac, RA, Thyroid, Cystic Fibrosis, Haematological, IBD, pharmacotherapy.- Chapter 6. Infections: vaccinations, toxoplasmosis, listeriosis, CMV, STI’s , HIV/AIDS, Zika.- Chapter 7. Nutrition: folic acid, nutrients.- Chapter 8. Occupational Environment: occupational hazards. Environmental Pollutants: exposures to toxins, pollution, water.- Chapter 9. Social Environment: interpersonal violence, trafficking.- Chapter 10. Fertility awareness, maternal/paternal age, menstrual issues, reproductive life plan, birth spacing.- Chapter 11. Genetic health, genetic counselling, consanguinity.- Chapter 12. Strategies for improving preconception health – examples from around the globe (China, Ethiopia, Europe, Canada, US, Bangladesh).- Chapter 13. The Way Forward.