There is ample evidence to support that a healthy pregnancy outcome is strongly influenced by a woman’s health status prior to becoming pregnant. The six months of prenatal care provided a woman is often insufficient to address the contributing risk factors that can lead to a poor birth outcome.

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 --In Florida, over 13 percent of babies are born premature and 3 percent are born with serious birth defects.(Florida CHARTS/Florida Birth Defects Registry)

--One-third of all infant deaths are caused by prematurity. (NCHIS)

--In 2005, 43 percent of births were to women who were overweight or obese. (Florida CHARTS)

--Pregnancy-related death is strongly associated with chronic illness and obesity. (PAMR)

--Approximately 46 percent of the live births are unplanned pregnancies. (PRAMS 2005)

Building on the growing body of evidence that suggests that preconception care poses an influential role in improving birth outcomes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published, “Recommendations for Improving Preconception Health and Health Care.” Four of the 10 recommendations specifically address clinical care and its provision, as summarized below:

Recommendation #1—Individual responsibility across the life span

Recommendation #3—Preventive visits

Recommendation #4—Interventions for identified risks

Recommendation #5—Interconception care

*CDC. MMWR 2006; 55 (No. RR-60): 1- 30.

View the full report here (pdf 721.4 KB).