Preconception Therapy

The Executive Board of the Center For Occupational & Environmental Medicine (COEM) announces the beginning of its new program of Preconceptual Care. This is one of the most exciting programs ever offered at the Center and certainly the most profound and rewarding of the many programs from its Division of Preventive Medicine. Why COEM? The Center has all the necessary facilities, staff, skills and interest required for such an endeavor. Our interest began five years ago when attending the British Society for Nutrition and Environmental Medicine's meeting in London. Dr. Niels Ward presented the clinical and research data which was collected from well baby clinics beginning before World War I. When analyzed it became readily apparent that health outcomes for life are determined not only by what happens to us while in utero, but of even greater importance depends on the health status of our mother and father 100 days prior to conception. From this shocking information came the beginning of a movement in England dealing with preconceptual care pioneered by Belinda Barnes. This truly remarkable woman accomplished, without any degree in Medicine, what no medical establishment has ever produced a practically perfect record of pregnancy outcomes.

• No Pre-mature births

• No Miscarriages

• No birth weight below 5 lbs., 2 oz.

• No congenital malformation

• No need for any neonatal intensive care

Based on an audit of 367 couples in 1990, 327 conceived and 327 babies were born and more amazingly, an 86% record of fertility for documented infertile couples. When compared to a control population or the presently existing statistics, the achievements of a program of Preconceptual care are unbelievable. The recent Newsweek article, September 23, 1999 highlighting Dr. Peter Nathanielcz' book Life In The Womb, The Origin of Health and Disease, describes his ideas as a revolution in the making. Intrauterine life is important as a predictor of our whole life's susceptibility to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity and many other conditions in later life. They go on to say, "The book addresses one of the most startling and important health findings of the twentieth century... How we are ushered into life will affect how we leave it." Nathanielcz' book in 1999 has caught the attention of the media and now the world. But where as the author and researcher's findings are described as "ideas", Belinda Barnes' achievements are reality.

This kind and generous lady had shared her knowledge and experience with those physicians who would listen. So, in 1995 in London, I listened and returned to Charleston, SC inspired and imbued with the knowledge and experience, which could change the lives of so many people. COEM is pleased to offer this remarkable program to those potential parents who are motivated to do what ever it takes to offer their babies lifelong health.

The Center wishes to acknowledge the generous help of Dr. Harold Buttram of Pennsylvania who shared his knowledge and experience with this program here in America.