Helllooo Wednesday! We’re returning to our regular programming this week with the tool to accompany the Preconception Visit post from a few weeks ago. We’re working through the prenatal care visits from preconception to postpartum and this week wraps up preconception care!
As I was scrolling the instagram, I came across the March of Dimes CEO’s account and found this opinion editorial she wrote this week. The short version: congress must extend postpartum coverage. YES!
There’s hardly something more timely for preconception care than longer coverage in the postpartum period so we can give proper interconception care to women and children! Extended postpartum care could offer so many benefits to women and to children. If you’re interested in more about this topic, the book The Fourth Trimester is a great place to start to see how postpartum care should look for women and what services and benefits could offer in a larger span of time.
Regarding the preconception tool, I think it would be helpful in the clinic setting for patients and providers – and it could even be used at a postpartum visit. Although most women at 8 weeks postpartum are trying to think of anything but becoming pregnant again.
I used the same resources to build the tool as in the preconception visit post, plus a few extras off some of the existing tools from the state of Colorado and Canada (see prior post) and some of the national hotline numbers for smoking cessation and abuse help lines.
My biggest concern with shared decision-making or patient education is when the patient leaves the clinic setting without something tangible that reviews what was covered. I find this especially true in women and families that receive preconception or pregnancy care – there is so much information covered at a visit it’s simply overwhelming for the brain. Occasionally, I see a woman take notes in a notebook or on a phone, but that’s a really small minority of people.
Additionally, preconception care is unique because women may prevent pregnancy for some time after receiving the counseling and then need to look back on the education or resources at a future date. It’s even further complicated if a woman has risk factors or certain medical conditions that may need additional preconception counseling or timely care after a pregnancy is achieved.
Regarding the tool, I tend to like things that are in a question and answer format. I have also found that patients really appreciate learning this way and learn new material at a faster rate. I chose this format for the tool because the amount of information to review in order to give proper preconception care is overwhelming! But the tool serves as a guide to make this easier for a provider or a patient.
Take a look at the tool and let me know what you think!
As always, tools are free to use around here – they are always available for download on the TOOLS & HANDOUTS page.
Please share widely and credit the source.
Hugs,
Jamie
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