Healthy People Learning Plan 2020, MICH-16.1 Bias Education for Women Over FortyThe community health problem identified by Healthy People 2020 (2013) indicates the need for education that “increases the percentage of women who have given birth to a live baby who have discussed preconception health with a health care professional before of pregnancy” (p. 3). My teaching plan will focus on women over the age of 40. The focus of preconception care has evolved over time. Preconception care had focused on women who had previously had an unfavorable pregnancy outcome. Barry (2011) states that “preconception care should be discussed with every woman at every opportunity” (p. 68-74). The goal of preconception care according to Barry (2011) is “to provide health promotion, screening, and interventions for women of reproductive age to reduce risk factors that may influence future pregnancies” (p. 68-74). Half of all pregnancies are unintended. Preconception care is usually provided to women who have planned a pregnancy and are seeking preconception care. A reproductive life plan is recommended for all pregnant older couples. Reproductive Life Plans will provide advice and address specific issues in the individual plan. The nurse should recognize the importance of initiating conversations about reproductive life with their patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “preconception care interventions are aimed at identifying and modifying biomedical, behavioral, and social risks to a woman's health or pregnancy outcome through prevention and management” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014). The goal is to optimize women's health before conception to maximize women's health...... center of paper ......checked. Family history, teach the importance of letting your doctor know what kind of illnesses or problems family members have had. Spend fifteen minutes talking about genetics and how it might affect their pregnancy and the birth of their baby. Teach about substance abuse, how alcohol and smoking can affect a fetus. Teach the importance of suspending the use of these substances during the preconception period and during pregnancy. Spend ten minutes reviewing risk factors, showing statistics of babies with fetal alcohol syndrome, babies with low birth weight and the risks of preterm labor. If women over 40 participate in preconception counseling to overcome any barriers they may have, and if they also follow the goals and objectives along with the key elements taught, these women should increase their chances of having a healthy pregnancy and live birth.