FIGO and IJGO are happy to announce the publication of the “FIGO Preconception Checklist: Preconception care for mother and baby”. This paper was written by the FIGO Committee on Well Woman Health Care and the FIGO Committee on the Impact of Pregnancy on Long-Term Health, 2021-2023.

The FIGO Preconception Checklist is a beneficial software for healthcare suppliers to make use of with their sufferers to assess threat elements and well being points that may contribute to maternal and perinatal loss of life and illness. It is designed to facilitate planning and healthcare administration of sufferers in the course of the preconception interval, with the intention of guaranteeing that sufferers are in the absolute best place previous to being pregnant, together with the broader goal  of homogenising preconception care throughout nations across the globe.

The preconception interval is a “window of opportunity”

Maternal and perinatal deaths and ailments are a serious international well being subject. In order to scale back the worldwide common maternal mortality price and eradicate deaths of newborns and kids beneath 5 years, implementing preventative care is a vital step. Therefore, addressing well being dangers and establishing more healthy habits in the course of the preconception interval is necessary to the prevention of maternal and foetal mortality and morbidity.

Preconception care includes biomedical, behavioural and social well being interventions previous to conception for girls and {couples}. It goals to scale back habits and elements that would contribute to poor maternal and youngster well being outcomes and bettering maternal and youngster well being within the quick and long run.

FIGO’s dedication to preconception care

The FIGO Preconception Checklist addresses key elements, akin to pre-existing persistent medical circumstances, poor diet, weight circumstances, dangerous environmental exposures, infectious ailments, unhealthy existence, inadequate vaccination historical past and insufficient inter-pregnancy intervals.

FIGO recognises the important position that public well being companies play in addressing all preconception well being care wants successfully. Healthcare professionals ought to present acceptable preconception care to all ladies throughout routine visits, no matter being pregnant intentions.

FIGO advocates for the significance of preconception care and commits to selling implementation initiatives throughout its member societies by way of the next actions:

• Developing and distributing assets for healthcare professionals on preconception care, such because the FIGO Preconception Checklist.
• Ensuring all healthcare methods, policymakers and suppliers are conscious of the impression of preconception care on the short- and long-term well being of their populations.
• Advocating for supportive capability constructing for healthcare suppliers and educators.
• Supplying assets to assist information assortment and monitoring mechanisms at institutional and nationwide ranges to evaluate and monitor current preconception care practices.

Read the “FIGO Preconception Checklist: Preconception care for mother and baby” right here.