Welcome to the Before, Between & Beyond Pregnancy Website!

Born Too Soon: The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth, released in 2012, includes an outstanding chapter on preconception health entitled "Care Before and Between Pregnancy". To read this chapter, please click here. Born Too Soon was authored by a broad group of 45 international multi-disciplinary experts, edited by the March of Dimes and published by the World Health Organization. More than 50 organizations have endorsed the report. The full publication can be accessed here.

The Interconception Care Project for California, led by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, District IX and funded by March of Dimes, California Chapter, released its interconception care tool kit on October 12. The recommendations aim to improve and promote the interconception health by maximizing care provided during the postpartum visit. A panel of obstetric and health experts developed evidence-based postpartum clinical management algorithms and companion patient education materials based on the 21 most common pregnancy and delivery complications identified using ICD-9 discharge code data in California. Review and download this important guidance by clicking here.

The Healthy People 2020 Objectives for the nation have been released. Included in the Maternal, Infant and Child Health (MICH) objectives is a section on preconception health (MICH 14-16). Objectives exist around exogenous folic acid use, red blood cell folate concentrations, talking with a health care worker about preconception health; tobacco and alcohol use prior to conception, pregravid weight status and use of contraception to plan pregnancy. Click here to become familiar with the newest objectives.

Also, remember to visit Breaking News to read the latest issue of the Preconception Health and Health Care Update, a monthly communication for individuals interested in improving the health of women and infants through preconception health.

Peter S. Bernstein, MD, MPH, an early and tireless proponent for preconception health, was recently enlisted by Medscape for one of its "Expert Interviews". Click here to read his update on preconception health.