Healthy People Education Plan 2020, MICH-16.1 Preconception Education for Women Over FortyThe Community Health Issue Identified by Healthy People 2020 (2013) indicates a need for education that “increases the proportion of women who have delivered a live child and discussed their preconception health with a health worker before pregnancy” (p. 3). My teaching plan will focus on women over 40. The focus of preconception care has evolved over time. Preconception care focused on women who had previously had an adverse pregnancy outcome. Barry (2011) states that “preconception care should be discussed with every woman at every opportunity” (p. 68-74). The goal of preconception care according to Barry (2011) is “to provide health promotion, screening, and interventions for women.” of childbearing age to reduce risk factors that could affect future pregnancies” (p. 68-74). Half of all pregnancies are unintended. Preconception care is typically provided to women who have planned a pregnancy and are seeking preconception care. A reproductive life plan is recommended for all couples of childbearing age. Reproductive Life Plans will provide guidance and address specific issues in the individual plan. The nurse must recognize the importance of engaging in conversations about reproductive life with patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “preconception care interventions aim to identify and modify biomedical, behavioral, and social risks to a woman's health or pregnancy outcome through prevention and management” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014). The goal is to optimize women's health before conception to maximize men's health...... middle of paper ......controlled. Family history, teach the importance of inform your doctor about what type of illness or problems your family members have been experiencing. Spend fifteen minutes talking about genetics and how it might affect their pregnancy and the live birth of their baby. Teach them about drug addiction, how alcohol and smoking can affect the fetus. Teach the importance of stopping these substances during preconception as well as during pregnancy. Spend ten minutes reviewing risk factors, showing statistics for babies with fetal alcohol syndrome, low birth weight babies, and risks of premature labor. If women over 40 participate in preconception counseling to overcome barriers they may encounter, and if they also follow the goals and objectives and key elements taught, these women should increase their chances of becoming pregnant. healthy and live birth.