Promoting healthy pregnancy and safe childbirth for mothers worldwide continues to be an important goal for government and private healthcare institutions. However, despite their efforts, mothers and their unborn babies remain vulnerable during the perinatal period. Medical research has shown that quality perinatal care significantly reduces health risks, such as hereditary anomalies. Therefore, it is essential for healthcare organizations and the government to promote healthcare practices that improve the perinatal health of mothers and babies. The Toward Improving the Outcome of Pregnancy III (TIOP III) medical resource found in the March of Dimes website provides useful evidence-based practices that promote perinatal health.
According to medical resources found in TIOP III, applying evidence-based practices and clinical guidelines throughout a mother’s life significantly improve the quality of perinatal health. There are several strategies identified throughout the medical resource that can be used to improve perinatal outcomes. Some of the evidence-based practices include:
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Poor pregnancy outcomes such as congenital anomalies can be prevented through adequate preconception care. The preconception period provides a chance to alter factors such as inter-conception length and control of chronic diseases associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. The primary objective of preconception care is to screen and provide medical interventions to the risk factors that may cause poor perinatal outcomes. Some of the medical interventions include vaccinations to control the underlying medical conditions that affect perinatal health (Badura, 2010). Also, promoting the use of appropriate contraceptive techniques would reduce unplanned conception and increase inter-conception length. Therefore, promoting preconception care through clinical and social methods would significantly influence improved perinatal health. Across the United States, several preconception care initiatives are promising. For instance, in California, the Preconception Health Council of California (PHCC) is responsible for promoting preconception health across the state (Badura, 2010).
Improving Quality of Prenatal Care
This is the healthcare provided to expectant women to prevent the development of medical complications that would affect perinatal outcomes. Prenatal care also reduces maternal morbidity and mortality. The prenatal care offers expectant mothers to undergo medical tests to make sure they are healthy and determine the due date (March of Dimes, 2010). Prenatal care also provides an opportunity for medical practitioners to advise mothers to practice healthy lifestyles to ensure a successful pregnancy. Pregnant women should receive quality prenatal care to improve perinatal health. The government, through healthcare organizations, has a responsibility to provide prenatal care to all expectant mothers.
Improving Quality of Intrapartum Care
The Intrapartum period is critical to successful perinatal outcomes as it poses a significant threat to both the mother and the fetus. Therefore, improving the quality of care during this period would improve the quality of perinatal health. Excessive maternal hemorrhage and fetal neurological impairment are some of the risk factors that should be prevented through quality intrapartum care. The healthcare organization should improve the quality of care given to women delivering at their facilities by ensuring that all the required equipment is provided. For instance, with the current rise in cesarean delivery rates across the United States, the health facilities need to have adequate surgical tools to ensure safe delivery. Introducing facility-based protocols to eliminate elective birth and control inappropriate cesarean deliveries are some measures that can be taken to improve intrapartum care (Clark et al., 2012). A successful intrapartum period would improve the quality of perinatal health.
Improving Quality of Postpartum Care
Lastly, postpartum care is essential to improve the quality of perinatal outcomes. Some of the initiatives that would enhance postnatal care include sustained breastfeeding and family-centered maternity care. Research shows that breastfeeding helps reduce postpartum bleeding and help the mother regain prenatal body weight (March of Dimes, 2010). Also, breast milk is highly beneficial to the baby due to its high nutritional value. Breastfeeding can be promoted through peer support and direct support of mothers by family members. The family members have a significant role in promoting practices that will improve postpartum care quality and, by extension, perinatal health.
In conclusion, the realization of quality perinatal health depends on the collaborative engagement and support of healthcare professionals, policy-makers, and individual patients. Improved perinatal outcomes depend on the initiatives taken by individuals, caregivers, and the government before, during, and after the pregnancy. Without the collaborative efforts of all these parties, improved perinatal healthcare would not be realized.
References
Badura, M. (2010). Quality Improvement Opportunities in Preconception and Interconception Care. Toward Improving the Outcome of Pregnancy III , 46.
Clark, S. L., Knox, E., Simpson, K. R., & Hankins, G. D. (2012). Quality improvement opportunities in intrapartum care. Toward Improving the Outcome of Pregnancy III. Available at: www. marchofdimes. com/TIOPIII_FinalManuscript. pdf. Accessed October , 12 .
March of Dimes. (2010). Toward improving the outcome of pregnancy III.
