Dr Matthew Jolly Clinical Director for Maternity and Women’s Health, NHS England makes the case for planning and preparation for pregnancy to improve maternal and child health outcomes: “There is an increasing recognition that women’s pre- conceptual health sets the foundation for a successful pregnancy and the subsequent lifelong health of the baby.”
Impacts of poor preconception health
Poor preconception health limits women’s choices and impacts on the safety of pregnancy and childbirth for both mothers and babies, with potentially long-term consequences on child health.
Source : Making the Case for Preconception Care, Public Health England, 2018
Planning pregnancy
45% of pregnancies and a third of births are unplanned or associated with feelings of ambivalence.
Teenage pregnancy
12% of births to women aged under 20 are to young women who are already mothers.
In 2016 babies born to mothers under 20 years had a 24% higher rate of stillbirth and a
56% higher rate of infant mortality.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s)
Experiencing 4 or more ACEs is associated with a 16 times higher risk of being
pregnant (or getting someone accidently pregnant) under the age of 18.
Smoking in pregnancy
causes up to 2,200 premature births, 5,000 miscarriages and 300 perinatal deaths per
year.
Maternal weight
Overweight and obese women have a higher risk of poor birth outcomes and of their
children being overweight or obese. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults
is predicted to reach 70% by 2034.
Folic acid
In 2011/12, only 31% of women took folic acid before pregnancy (intake of which
reduces risk of neural tube defects).
Mental health
20% of women experience mental health issues in pregnancy and the first year after
birth17 and up to 10% of fathers suffer from postnatal depression18. Suicide is one of the commonest causes of maternal mortality.
Long-term conditions
Two-thirds of maternal deaths occurred in those with pre-existing physical or mental
health problems.
Drugs and alcohol
One in 12 women under 20 accessing drug and alcohol services are either pregnant or
a teenage mother.
Please find more information on pre-conception care for parents and families and professionals. You may also find the more specific information listed under Parents & Families > Health Conditions and Professionals > Speciality information, as well as the Medication section helpful.