Contrary to perception, Dr. Walker emphasises how maternal health begins even before pregnancy. “So some of the ways a mother’s health can affect her baby’s chances of survival are just not having good health, period. So there’s an old saying about what’s in the well comes out in the bucket. How the mother’s health is, is what’s going to impact that baby,” she explains. She stresses the importance of a preconception visit for women planning to start a family, where the goal is to understand how to help them achieve their optimal health: “So when you’re trying to get pregnant, it’s so important to go see your provider, have that preconception visit saying that, “Hey, we want to start a family. How can I get my body to the most optimum health possible?”
