The Guide to Preconception Counseling and Healthy Pregnancy (2025) by the Spanish General Nursing Council offers a comprehensive framework for preconception and prenatal care within the nursing practice. Its fundamental aim is to detect and mitigate modifiable health, behavioral, and psychosocial risks before conception, enhancing both maternal and perinatal health outcomes.

At the core of this guide is the preconception consultation, ideally conducted up to one year before pregnancy. This consultation involves assessing family and personal health histories, genetic factors, nutritional and immunization status, supplementation with folic acid, exposure to toxic substances (alcohol, tobacco), and risk behaviors related to sexually transmitted infections . Nurses, especially midwives, are pivotal in delivering these services within primary care settings, providing individualized and accessible support.

Once pregnancy occurs, prenatal control becomes essential. The guide advises monitoring risk factors through collaboration between midwives and obstetricians. Low-risk pregnancies can be managed within primary care, while higher-risk cases should be referred for specialized follow-up.

One of the guide’s innovation lies in its preventive strategies section, which addresses lifestyle recommendations—healthy nutrition, folic acid supplementation, avoidance of tobacco, alcohol, and toxic substances—and includes guidance on breastfeeding and diet during lactation. The guide also underscores the importance of involving both women and their partners in informed decision-making and ensuring education is tailored to each individual’s context.

Aligned with international best practices, the guide emphasizes early identification of chronic diseases and personalized interventions before conception. It also integrates nutritional guidelines and patient education, reinforcing prevention as a cornerstone of maternal-fetal health.

In summary, this guide provides practical, nurse-led recommendations for optimizing preconception and prenatal care through:

• Early evaluation of health, lifestyle, and environmental risks.

• Coordinated care between nursing and obstetric teams based on pregnancy risk level.

• Preventive strategies like folic acid supplementation, healthy behaviors, and education.

• Patient- and partner-centered care to support informed health decisions.

By focusing on prevention, tailored support, and multidisciplinary coordination, the guide aims to promote healthier pregnancies, better maternal outcomes, and improved neonatal well-being.

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References

Spanish General Nursing Council. A new nursing guide provides the keys to achieving pregnancy without risks for the life of the mother and/or the baby. Press release, Madrid; March 13, 2025. Available at: consejogeneralenfermeria.org.

Spanish General Nursing Council. Preconception consultation and healthy pregnancy. Clinical Guidelines. March 2025. Spanish General Nursing Council – Spanish Institute of Nursing Research. Available at: consejogeneralenfermeria.es.

Angulo M, Blanco JE, González C, Magdaleno G, Rodríguez N, Pessegueiro C. Practical Nursing Recommendations Guide: Preconception Consultation and Healthy Pregnancy. Spanish Institute of Nursing Research; 2025. ISBN: 9788419459299. Available at: colegioenfermeriahuesca.org.

Europa Press – Infosalus. The Spanish General Nursing Council publishes a guide to achieve pregnancy without risks. Infosalus; March 14, 2025. Available at: infosalus.com.

Isanidad. Italfarmaco and the Spanish General Nursing Council launch a practical guide for preconception consultation and healthy pregnancy. Isanidad; March 13, 2025. Available at: isanidad.com