New podcast series features expert advice to support Health Professionals in preconception health care
A new podcast series, developed by Health and Wellbeing Queensland, is designed to upskill and empower health professionals in their support of parents from preconception through to the pre-school years.
Clinician’s Guide to the First 2000 Days follows the success of Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s first podcast series Clinician’s Guide to Healthy Kids, launched in 2023. Both focus on supporting health professionals to have effective conversations on positive health behaviours.
The podcast series is just one of the ways Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld) is supporting health professionals in delivering comprehensive, world-class healthcare.
‘The first 2000 days of life are critical for long-term development and prevention of chronic disease across the lifespan,’ said Dr Robyn Littlewood, Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s Chief Executive.
‘When children are supported with early, evidenced-based prevention initiatives during this critical and formative years, combined with health-promoting environments and ongoing care across the lifespan, this helps lay the foundation for life-long health and wellbeing, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
‘Health and Wellbeing Queensland has a key role in highlighting the importance of prevention during this critical time, raising awareness, and providing education and resources to support our Health Professional workforce.’
Delivered over nine episodes, Clinician’s Guide to the First 2000 Days is hosted by Queensland GP Dr Sam Manger.
Each episode, Dr Manger interviews two subject matter experts, with Accredited Practicing Dietitian Dr Shelley Wilkinson and GP Dr Terri-Lynne South, lending their expertise to episode one.
‘Accessible, evidence-based clinical information plays a crucial role in empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their reproductive health,’ said Dr Terri-Lynne South.
‘For clinicians, a proactive approach to pre-conception care is vital. Routine consultations should include discussions about reproductive health, contraception choices, and health behaviours that impact fertility—even for those not actively planning a pregnancy.’
With 50% of pregnancies in Australia unplanned, Dr Shelley Wilkinson said planning provides an opportunity for parents-to-be and clinicians to work together and enhance the life course of parents, from that point on, and the health of the resultant child.
‘When planning a pregnancy, it is important to optimise the health of the woman and her partner,’ said Dr Wilkinson.
‘It allows for preconception health checks and advice. It may involve medication, nutrient supplements, and immunisation status reviews as well as advice and support to improve health habits.
‘We need to more consistently provide health information and behaviour change tools to help people enter a pregnancy the healthiest they can be for the best outcomes for mum and bub.
‘We also need to get the biggest bang for our buck in where we put our energy and advice – eating enough fruit and vegetables (and other minimally processed foods), drinking water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages, and reducing foods than come in crinkly packets will have greater health impacts for more pregnancies than only advising women on what foods to avoid for food safety reasons.
In addition to preconception care, the nine episodes also explore antenatal care, postnatal care for mothers and infants, and toddler growth and development.
While the series is designed for health professionals, The First 2000 Days podcast series also holds valuable advice for parents.
‘For soon-to-be parents, my key advice is to focus on overall health and positive health behaviours well before trying to conceive,’ said Dr South.
‘Small, sustainable changes—such as optimising nutrition (including folate and iodine intake), engaging in regular physical activity, aiming for a healthy body weight, and reducing stress—can have a significant impact on fertility and pregnancy outcomes.’
Listen to Clinician’s Guide to First 2000 Days episodes here, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pandora, or your favourite podcast app.
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