Lecture 2: Preconception Flashcards
What is preconception?
“the period before (at least 2 years) and between consecutive pregnancies, to improve health related outcomes for women (regardless of their pregnancy status), newborns and children up to 5 years of age”
What is the proximal preconception period?
Period preceding pregnancy (up to 2 years prior to conception)
What is the distal preconception period?
Adolescence or in general a longer time before pregnancy
Why is preconception important?
Because a mothers health at and before conception influences the course and outcome of her pregnancy
What does maternal nutrition at the time of conception influence?
Placental development and function
What is directly tied to maternal preconception nutrition and child’s long-term health?
Fetal genomic imprinting and programming at conception
What is periconception?
“the period preceding, including and immediately following human conception to improve health related outcomes for women, newborns and children up to 5 years of age”
What is the boundary for periconception?
3 months before pregnancy and up to the first trimester
When do most reproductive failures occur?
During periconception
What is the CRITICAL window of life?
First 1000 days of life
What does the first 1000 days of life include?
Pregnancy, and first 2 years of life (not pre-conception)
Why is nutrition in the first 1000 days of life the critical window?
Key to brain development, healthy growth and a strong immune system - one of the most modifiable factors
What percent of the population are malnourished during the first 1000 days of life?
1/3
What does malnourished mean?
Obese, underweight or deficiencies
What do majority of infant deaths occur due to?
Malnutrition
What is happening during periconception?
The eggs and sperm are being developed. Egg = 14 weeks, Sperm =10 weeks
Why should we consider the periconception period longer than 3 months?
Biologically it could be considered 5-6 months
What does malnutrition look like around the world?
1.9 billion adults are overweight (>600 million obese)
462 million adults are underweight
What does the prevalence of malnutrition look like over time?
Increasing overweight and obesity
Undernutrition prevalence is stabilising or decreasing
What BMI indicates obesity?
> 30kg/m2
Most obese men and women tend not to be infertile rather…
Sub fertile
What is sub-fertile?
difficulty conceiving, pro-longed period of misconception
Obese women tend to have higher levels of what?
Estrogen, androgens and leptin than non-obese