|
Preconception Health and Health Care Update
Greetings
This is a monthly communication for individuals interested in improving the health of women and infants through preconception health and health care. We welcome your readership and contributions. |
|
1st European Congress on Preconception Care and Preconception Health
The first European Congress on Preconception Care and Preconception Health was convened in Brussels on October 6-9. Hosted by the Belgium Office of Birth and Childhood (Office de la Naissance et de L'Enfance: ONE, for the French speaking community of Belgium).and the Beligan Association of French speaking Gynaecologists and Obstricians (GGOLFB) it brought together leaders from across Europe and the United States.
The Congress objectives were to: introduce preconception care into primary care in Europe; give information about interventions; increase awareness among the public and policymakers; sustain involvement; exchange experirences; and propose recommendations to European goverments for the promotion of preconception health and care. More than 200 professionals attended.
The United States was well represented by more than 10 individuals, including plenary presentations by Dr. Hani Atrash of CDC and Merry-K Moos, as well as fundamentals of evidence-based medicine by Dr. Brian Jack and data approaches by Dr. Sam Posner.
Key topics on the agenda included the following.
- What is the evidence base?
- What are the challenges and knowledge gaps for implementing preconception care?
- What is the status of preconception health care efforts in Europe and the US?
- What is role of preconception care in preventing birth defects?
- How can we leverage what is known to advance the issue on the policy agenda?
Most striking from a US perspective is the degree to which our efforts are focused on access, while virtually all European systems have provided coverage and a medical home for each woman and man. In addition, discussions focused on a preconception visit versus a preconception health strategy. The need to emphasize the health and well-being of women was mentioned again and again. |
|
September Legislative Action
U.S. House of Representatives action in September advanced two bills focused on improving maternal and infant health. Each has important implications.
Birth Defects Prevention, Risk Reduction, and Awareness Act of 2010 (HR 5462) sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). The bill passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee on September 24 and and the full House on September 30. This legislation requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to establish and implement a birth defects prevention and public awareness program.. A Senate companion bill (S. 3479) has been introduced by Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC) but not acted upon by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Nationally Enhancing the Wellbing of Babies through Outreach and Research Now (NEWBORN) Act (HR 3470) sponsored by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN). On September 22, the House of Representatives approved this bill, which would create a national pilot program in cities with the highest rates of infant mortality. Several organizations, including the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) and the National Healthy Start Association have raised oncerns about the overlap in design and purpose with the Healthy Start program now serviing 104 communities entering its 20th year.
.
Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who Deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Act co-sponsored by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Chris Dodd (D-CT). The purpose of this bill introduced on September 29 is to reauthorize the PREEMIE Act (P.L. 109-450) to continue and enhance federal support for research into the causes and prevention of premature birth and to reduce infant mortality caused by prematurity. It will expand and improve the scope of federally supported activities permitted under the current statute which is scheduled to expire at the end of fiscal year 2011. |
New Book on Fetal Origins and How the Months Before Birth Shape the Rest of Our Lives
A new book by Annie Murphy Paul, entitled, Origins: How the Nine Months Before Birth Share the Rest of Our Lives, has brought the topics of fetal origins, epigenetics, and preconception to prominence in major publications.
The book (306 pp. Free Press, September 2010) considers David Barker's hypothesis on fetal orgins,Michael Pollan on real food, and epigenetics. The author posits: "The theory of fetal origins ought to contribute to complexity, not reduce it; if we take care in how we think about prenatal influences, they may add another layer to our understanding of who we are and how we got to be this way." More about preconception influences would have strengthened the book but it is a strong and well-documented narrative. For reviews and discussion of this book, visit.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/books/review/Groopman-t.html?emc=eta1
http://blogs.wsj.com/juggle/2010/10/14/does-stress-light-drinking-during-pregnancy-really-matter/
http://www.doublex.com/section/arts/are-babies-smarter-we-are
Annie Murphy Paul is a magazine journalist and book author who writes about the biological and social sciences. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the New York Times Book Review, Slate, Discover, Health, O: The Oprah Magazine, and many other publications.  For those who'd like to learn more about appyling similar lessons to preconception health, don't forget Get Ready to Get Pregnant by Dr.Michael Lu. This book has valuable, evidence-based recommendations for individual women and the professionals who care for them. Now available for Kindle e-reader. |
|
|
Save the Date: 3rd National Summit on Preconception Health and Health Care: Improving Preconception Health in an Era of Health Reform. To be held in Florida, Monday June 13 - Wednesday June 15, 2011
|
|
|
|
