IMPLICIT Network

Innovations for Maternal and PerinataL Care ImprovemenT

Interconception Care (ICC)

Preventing prematurity
one mother/birthing person at a time

ICC is a brief, innovative model that screens mothers/birthing people at well child visits from 0 – 24 months to address 4 modifiable risk factors.

The Four Risk Factors

Smoking

Only 20% of smokers quit during pregnancy, many see it as a “time limited restriction.” 70% who quit during pregnancy, started smoking again within 6 months. Prenatal smoking is associated with:

Prenatal smoking is associated with increased rates of:

  • Preterm births
  • Low birth weight infants
  • Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Depression

1 in 8 mothers/birthing people is affected by perinatal depression.

  • Major depression peaks 6 weeks after birth, but may occur at any time in between pregnancies.
  • Postpartum depression is one of the most underdiagnosed obstetric complications in America

Family Planning

Birth spacing of less than 18 months increases the risk of preterm birth and other adverse outcomes.

  • Over 40% of pregnancies are described as unintended
  • Patient-centered contraception counseling helps patients identify and obtain a contraceptive method that fits their values, preferences, and lifestyle

Multivitamin with Folic Acid

Preconception and interconception consumption of folic acid helps reduce neural tube defects

  • 70% of mothers/birthing people do not consume a multivitamin with folic acid in the month prior to pregnancy
  • It is recommended for all mothers/birthing people of reproductive age to take 400 mcg of folic acid each day

The Stats

of mothers/birthing people attend their child’s well child visit
of mothers/birthing people are willing to receive health advice from their child’s doctor
of mothers/birthing people screened positive for one or more ICC risk factors during a well child visit

Why ICC?

Interconception Care (ICC) is the care that is given to mothers/birthing people BETWEEN pregnancies. It allows us to identify and address risk factors prior to the next pregnancy. Early and adequate prenatal care is not enough to prevent premature and low birth weight infants.

For a 6 month old who I had been following since birth, I was completing the ICC with mom when she revealed she had been struggling with significant depression over the last few weeks. She had a history of depression prior to pregnancy and had come off her medications prenatally. She stated that she didn’t feel she had time to make an appointment for herself, but was very open to resuming medication and counseling which we discussed and orders placed during the baby’s visit in a separate encounter. She verbalized that she appreciated that we recognized her health as important to baby’s health.

~ IMPLICIT Provider