New research [1] from UK pregnancy charity Tommy’s shows most women still consume harmful substances like alcohol and caffeine while trying for a baby, suggesting low awareness of the risks and fuelling calls for a national strategy to improve preconception health.
A 2018 Series in renowned medical journal the Lancet detailed how parents’ health can affect pregnancy outcomes and the lifelong wellbeing of mother and child [2], and Tommy’s research at the time found women typically spent more time planning a holiday than a pregnancy [3]. Despite proposals for public health policies to improve awareness and behaviours, the NHS has no specific services to help people physically prepare for pregnancy, and by the time someone comes to antenatal care it may be too late for them to make important changes.
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