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The emotional response to pregnancy is mostly positive among women and their partners. However, the physical response to pregnancy comes with its fair share of demands. This is expected as the female body is in a state of procreation and within the womb; development of a foetus is underway. The physical changes and physiological needs of women during the gestation phase can be complex and varied and as such pregnancy can be perplexing and taxing for many women. Additionally, one cannot discount the needs of a developing foetus.  As such, pregnancy is an entirely unique physical and emotional experience for first time mothers and it is only fair that we prepare women for this voluntary phase of life. This is exactly the point at which preconception counselling makes an entry. At best; preconception counselling can be described as pregnancy prep. However, it is intrinsically relevant when a woman is intent on ensuring positive pregnancy health. Listed below are the 7 benefits of preconception counselling for pregnancy health that effectively shed more light on this subject. Read further to know more.

1.Aiming to Improve Maternal and Child Health

The goal of preconception counselling is to improve mother and child health by educating first-time mothers on the subject of pregnancy including maternal and foetal needs and safety measures.

2.Timely Intervention  

As mentioned before; the stages of pregnancy can prove to be an entirely unique experience for a first-time mother. The prospect of having a baby can be exhilarating yet the stages that a mother must undergo to get there can be perplexing and taxing. Common sense dictates that first-time mothers with greater insight into maternal and foetal needs during the many stages of pregnancy are better able to ensure that these needs are met. As such; preconception counselling can best be described as a timely intervention that helps first-time mothers prepare for a first-time pregnancy and all its complexities.

3.Integral Insights

Preconception counselling provides integral insights into proactive measures that can be taken for greater maternal and foetal health. This includes integral insights into exercise, nutrition, testing and diagnostics and general safety measures a first-time mother can take to ensure the wellbeing of a growing foetus and her own wellbeing as well.

4.Promoting Foetal Health

Preconception counselling is characterized by an emphasis on promoting women’s health prior to pregnancy. All reports suggest that healthy women enjoy a greater chance of a healthy pregnancy. Through preconception counselling; women are able to prepare their bodies for pregnancy and reduce or eliminate risk factors that could result in a difficult pregnancy. As such, preconception counselling goes a long way in promoting foetal health.

5.Promoting Maternal Health

A stronger body is better equipped to deal with the demands of pregnancy. Pregnancy is a dangerous and often fatal proposition for ailing women with underlying health conditions or significant health risks that can be aggravated by a pregnancy. Preconception counselling is characterized by the emphasis on proactive measures to improve a woman’s health before opting to conceive.  As such; preconception counselling promotes maternal as well as foetal health.

6.Eliminates and Reduces Risk to Mother and Child During the Pregnancy Phase

With the advances in diagnostics and testing; the outcome of conception can be predicted to a considerable degree. Preconception counselling stresses on proper diagnostics and testing to reduce risk to mother and child during the pregnancy phase and even after childbirth.

7.Customized Treatment for Pre-existing Conditions

Often times, women do opt for conception without a clean bill of health. Preconception counselling stresses on customized treatment measures for pre-existing conditions with an emphasis on reducing or eliminating foetal or maternal risk during the pregnancy phase. Preconception counselling stresses on customised treatment measures for conditions such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and cardiac conditions  in soon to be mothers. The emphasis is on switching to treatment measures and medications that are safe for the developing foetus during the gestation phase.

8.General Insights into Maternal and Foetal Wellbeing

At best; preconception counselling can be described as a series of general and in-depth tutorials on pregnancy varying from one woman to the next.  In the case of healthy women who are planning to conceive; preconception counselling can provide useful general insights into foetal and maternal wellbeing by stressing on a healthy pregnancy diet, the need for exercise and the foetal and maternal need for specific nutrient supplementation during the pregnancy phase.