Table 1.

Preconception interventions for women of reproductive age

INTERVENTION	EFFECT
Eat a well-balanced diet	Prevent malnutrition, and obesity and its consequences
Exercise regularly	Prepare body for pregnancy-related changes, prevent obesity and its consequences, reduce stress
Cease smoking	Reduce risk of miscarriage, premature delivery, low birth weight, and sudden infant death syndrome
Avoid alcohol intake	Prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and reduce risk of small size for gestational age, low birth weight, and preterm birth
Cease illicit drug use	Reduce risk of sexually transmitted infections and placental abruption
Minimize environmental toxin exposure	Reduce risk of low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth, and birth defects
Reduce stress	Reduce risk of preterm delivery and adversely altered fetal growth
Manage chronic medical conditions	Prevent unfavourable outcomes depending on maternal medical conditions
Identify and treat women at risk of severe morning sickness	Reduce risk of severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and its consequences
Maintain a healthy weight	Prevent being underweight or overweight, and prevent obesity and its consequences
Take multivitamins and folic acid	Reduce risk of neural tube defects
Get vaccinations	Reduce maternal and perinatal infection