title: The history of preconception care: evolving guidelines and standards.
abstract: This article explores the history of the preconception movement in the United States and the current status of professional practice guidelines and standards. Professionals with varying backgrounds (nurses, nurse practitioners, family practice physicians, pediatricians, nurse midwives, obstetricians/gynecologists) are in a position to provide preconception health services; standards and guidelines for numerous professional organizations, therefore, are explored. The professional nursing organization with the most highly developed preconception health standards is the American Academy of Nurse Midwives (ACNM); for physicians, it is the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). These guidelines and standards are discussed in detail.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA. margaretfreda@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Margaret Comerford
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Freda
authors.forename: Merry-K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Moos
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Curtis
mesh_terms: D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000266:history*; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000592:standards*; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000266:history / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000266:history* / Q000592:standards; D011247:Pregnancy; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States