Pregnancy as an optimal time for health improvement: Creating interventions to benefit maternal and fetal health long-term

Abstract

America is experiencing a major healthcare crisis. Stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are common diseases that contribute to both the morbidity and mortality rate in the United States. Primary and secondary prevention measures include healthy eating, exercise, vaccinations, and screening for disease. Annual “well-woman visits'' provide an opportunity to address these measures. However, only 73% of women have attended a routine visit in the last two years1. Pregnancy is an optimal time for women to improve their health. The recommended number of outpatient visits in pregnancy is 11 by 36 weeks of gestation followed by additional weekly visits until childbirth2. Each visit presents an opportunity for health education, motivational interviewing to promote positive health habits, vaccination, and to screen for diseases ranging from cervical cancer to diabetes. Additionally, pregnant women are often motivated to promote their health for fetal benefit3. Pregnancy is an optimal time for women to undergo interventions to improve their overall health and prevent disease. Previous successful evidenced-based interventions, including studies aimed at limiting alcohol consumption and smoking during pregnancy, can be used as a starting point for creating new interventions to educate women on primary and secondary prevention measures and assist them in implementation into their lives.