Psychological impact of preconception counseling: Assessment of anxiety before and during pregnancy

Objective: Assessment of anxiety levels in women and men before and after preconception counseling and during the first trimester of pregnancy. Methods: Couples were recruited from the fertility clinic of the University Medical Center Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Anxiety was assessed using the 40-item Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results: 53 women and 51 men (74%) completed the STAI both before and after counseling. Anxiety levels did not change significantly after counseling or during the first trimester of pregnancy. 83.4% would recommend preconception counseling to others. Conclusion: Preconception counseling is valued by the majority of women and men and does not lead to adverse psychological effects. Copyrigh

Preconception nutritional intake and lifestyle factors: First results of an explorative study

Objective: To describe nutritional intake and lifestyle factors in women planning pregnancy. Study design: A semi-quantitative, 1-month food frequency questionnaire and a questionnaire on health practices and personal views were filled out at home and verified by telephone interview. Results: One hundred and one women agreed to participate and data of 69 women were eligible for evaluation. Women planning pregnancy (n=46) consumed significantly more saturated fats and proteins, less carbohydrates and higher median intakes of Vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, calcium, selenium, magnesium and iron than controls (n=23; P<0.05). However, the percentage of women

Health-related quality-of-life in patients with morbid obesity after gastric banding for surgically induced weight loss

Background. Physical, emotional, and social functioning are impaired in obesity. It is unknown whether and, if so, to what extent and in which domain obese subjects who lose weight may catch UP to normal-weight levels. Our objective was to compare the health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) of obese subjects with that of a normal-weight reference group before and I year after a weight loss program that centered around laparoscopic and open gastric banding. Methods. An HRQL questionnaire consisting of a battery of both generic and specific measures was administered to 50 morbidly. obese subjects on 2 occasions and to 100 healthy, normal-weight subjects, matched for age, gender, education, and vocational training. In addition to weight loss and health gain, the influences of achieved weight loss goals, satisfaction with outcome and operative approach (laparoscopy/laparotomy) were assessed. Results. Quality-of-life was significantly impaired in obese subjects. With a substantial weight loss of 35 kg and 42% loss of excessive weight, and correction of disturbed metabolic parameters, they significantly improved in general well-being, health distress, and perceived attractiveness, approaching halfway the values of a normal-weight reference group. Improvement in values for depression and self-regard lagged behind. In physical activity, they bypassed the reference group. Days of sick leave decreased to the level of the reference group. Improvements in HRQL paralleled the rate Of weight loss. Personal satisfaction and surgical approach were of minor influence. Conclusions. The obese subjects' impaired physical and social functioning improved considerably, catching up midway to normal-weight reference values after weight loss. Psychologic amelioration lagged behind. Whether the latter will catch up later and physical/social improvements will be maintained is the subject of further studie

MATERNAL SMOKING CESSATION INTERVENTION: TARGETING WOMEN AND THEIR PARTNERS BEFORE PREGNANCY

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