Pre-pregnancy

Chain of best practices in Midwifery

In this project we have developed chains of best practices for each step in full scope midwifery. Here’s the picture of best practices in pre-pregnancy care. Click on the picture below for a PDF-version, that can be saved and/or printed for professional use:

Preconception health handbook

This handbook was created in the 4Steps project. Here you can read about preconception health and care. You can open and use the handbook by clicking on the picture of the front page. Abstract is in English, content in Vietnamese.

Pre-pregnancy posters

Here is some material from pre-pregnancy work together. If you want to print a poster, click on the picture!

Here you can see the summary of the preconception health and care checklist development process. Click on picture for a PDF-format.

Checklists for you!

During our workshops in WP5 (Women’s health and pre-pregnancy care) the team worked together to create checklists that professionals can use when practicing midwifery care with their client. Checklists can be found below in Khmer, Vietnamese and English. Click on the picture and download the PDF-version of the checklist. Print and use!

Checklists for you!

During our workshops in WP5 (Women’s health and pre-pregnancy care) the team worked together to create checklists that professionals can use when practicing midwifery care with their client. Checklists can be found below in Khmer, Vietnamese and English. Click on the picture and download the PDF-version of the checklist. Print and use!

Checklist in Vietnamese (click on picture for PDF):

Checklist in English, made by team Vietnam (click on picture for PDF):

Checklist in Khmer (click on picture for PDF):

Checklist in English, made by team Cambodia (click on picture for PDF):

Preconception care: Maximizing the gains for maternal and child health by WHO

A new WHO report shows that preconception care has a positive impact on maternal and child health outcomes. Addressed primarily at health professionals responsible for developing national and local health policies, the report provides a foundation for implementing a package of promotive, preventive and curative health interventions shown to have been effective in improving maternal and child health. A wide range of sectors and stakeholders needs to be engaged to ensure universal access to preconception care. The report also guides non-health sectors, foundations and civil society organizations to collaborate with, and support, public health policy-makers to maximize gains for maternal and child health through preconception care. Read the entire report here!

Lancet series on Preconception Health

“A woman who is healthy at the time of conception is more likely to have a successful pregnancy and a healthy child. A reviewed published evidence and present new data from low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries on the timing and importance of preconception health for subsequent maternal and child health.” Read more here!

Preconception health 1. Before the beginning: nutrition and lifestyle in the preconception period and its importance for future. Lancet 2018: 391: 1830-41.

“Parental environmental factors, including diet, body composition, metabolism, and stress, affect the health and chronic disease risk of people throughout their lives…” Read more here!

Preconception health 2. Origins of lifetime health around the time of conception: causes and consequences. Lancet 2018: 391: 1843-52.

“The nutritional status of both women and men before conception has profound implications for the growth, development, and long-term health of their offspring. Evidence of the effectiveness of preconception interventions for improving outcomes for mothers and babies is scarce. However, given the large potential health return, and relatively low costs and risk of harm, research into potential interventions is warranted.” Read more here!

Preconception health 3. Intervention strategies to improve nutrition and health behaviours before conception. Lancet 2018: 391: 1853-64.

Midwifery competencies specific to pre-pregnancy and antenatal care by ICM (International Confederation of Midwives). Read about the competencies here!