Preconception nutrition
The time before conception (before pregnancy)
Preconception
The period (at least 2 years) before and between pregnancies, to improve health related outcomes for women (regardless of their pregnancy status), newborns and children upto 5 years
Preconception Proximal period
Period preceding pregnancy (up to 2 years prior to conception)
Preconception Distal period
Adolescents or in general a longer time before pregnancy
Periconception
The period preceding including and immediately following human conception, to improve health related outcomes for women, newborns and children up to 5 years
Preconception boundary
3 months before pregnancy to up to the first trimester
Critical window
First 1000 days (2 years)
key to brain development, healthy growth and a strong immune system
The periconception period
3 months prior to conception
*biologically 5-6 months
Why does excess body fat decrease fertility?
Why does inadequate body fat decrease fertility?
What does Periconceptional nutritional status influence?
offspring, metabolism, organ growth, development and function, leading to increased risk of chronic disease
Choline
Brain development
Iron
Iron deficiency anemia linked with LBW, delayed development, preterm birth, infections, postpartum hemorrhages
Iodine
Zinc
Preterm birth, placenta function
Omega-3 fatty acids and B12
altered lipid metabolism
Multivitamins
Folic Acid
Periconceptional folic acid
Prevents(1st and second) /reduces neural tube defects (spine and brain)
1st trimester
Conception to 12th week
Estimated date of delivery (EDD)
counted from 1st day of LMP (40 weeks from here/38 weeks after conception)
2nd trimester
Week 13-28
3rd trimester
Week 28 to birth
Pre-term (premature)
<37 weeks