'Preconception Care'

From the Kaiser Family Foundation May 18 daily reports:
The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post on Tuesday examined CDC's new "preconception care" recommendations -- published in the April 21 edition of CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report -- that encourage women to maintain physical and emotional health before they become pregnant. According to the Post, preconception care includes the recommendation that all women "between first menstrual period and menopause" take "folic acid supplements, refrain from smoking, maintain a healthy weight and keep chronic conditions, such as asthma and diabetes, under control" (Payne, Washington Post, 5/16). The goal of CDC's recommendations is to make preconception care "as common as prenatal care" for all women, including those not planning to become pregnant, according to the Journal (Chernova, Wall Street Journal, 5/16). Read the rest of the story