Preconception Care: A New Standard of Care within Maternal Health Services

Table 1

Common deficiencies in pregnancy.

Deficiency	Associated effects	Treatment
Vitamin D deficiency	Myriad potential sequelae (see Table 2), for example, increased risk for decreased bone mass, respiratory issues, short-sightedness, and crooked teeth in offspring	Assessment of maternal serum levels in preconception period and supplementation as necessary-seasonal adjustments may be required [78]
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) deficiency	Preterm labour and postpartum depression in mothers; Central nervous system disturbance, poor sleep pattern, lower IQ, and impaired blood pressure control later in life in offspring	Distilled cod liver oil supplement prior to and throughout pregnancy [79]
Magnesium deficiency	Potential determinant of adverse gestational outcomes [80, 81]	Supplementation in preconception period; Education about foods high in magnesium
Compromised microbiome environment	Preterm labour [82]; Serious bacterial infection in first 3 months of life in offspring [83] and potential long-term pediatric complications [84]	Avoidance of unnecessary antibiotics; Good quality probiotic; Fermented foods and drink in preconception and prenatal period