ORGANIZATONS

March of Dimes Foundation
A nonprofit organization committed to preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
www.marchofdimes.com

• Tools and information for physicians regarding preconception care, including a preconception screening and counseling checklist
• Information for women about folic acid and pregnancy
• Links to outside sources of information regarding preconception care

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
A division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with a focus including preventing of birth defects and promoting healthy pregnancies.
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/index.html

• Patient-friendly information about preconception care
• Links to current recommendations
• Links to outside resources

GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

American Academy of Family Physicians
Summary of recommendations for clinical preventive services.  Revision 6.8, April 2009.
www.aafp.org/online/en/home/clinical/exam.html

• Recommendations for multiple preventive services, including specific doses of folic acid prior to pregnancy.

American Academy of Pediatrics
Folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects, 1999.  (Statement of reaffirmation published May 1, 2007.)
aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;104/2/325

• Recommendations for specific doses of folic acid prior to pregnancy, including women who have had a previous NTD-affected pregnancy and others at high risk.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Workgroup on Preconception Health and Health Care
The Clinical Content of Preconception Care, 2008.
www.ajog.org/issues/contents?issue_key=S0002-9378(08)X0011-0

• Extensive, evidence-based information about multiple aspects of preconception care, including immunizations, care of chronic medical conditions, and nutrition, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Workgroup on Preconception Health and Health Care.  Recommendations are summarized in an article titled “The clinical content of preconception care: an overview and preparation of this supplement."

American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Neural tube defects, 2003.
Summary available at www.guidelines.gov

• Recommendations including screening for and prevention of neural tube defects.