General Practitioners (GPs) provide cradle to grave care, resulting in continuity of care throughout a person’s lifespan. There is great opportunity for preventative care, as well as early treatment, to prevent mild disorders becoming severe in general practice. This is especially relevant throughout the childbearing years where GPs have the capacity to practice true primary care for the whole family. Preventive care during the first 1000 days of life has been shown to impact the lifelong health, wellbeing and epigenetics of children. These children are our future and reflect the health of our nations; ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ The importance of how GPs engage in preconception care, shared pregnancy care and postpartum care is undeniable and urgent.

The presentation is narrative in style, using stories to walk through the preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum journey. The importance of safe, holistic, whole person care giving is emphasised. Evidence-based tools for GPs will be provided to example the provision of health care to patients during the pregnancy and early childhood years.

Themes of recovering our place in family medicine, reconnecting with patients, their families and the world and reviving the art of general practice in family medicine are covered. New families trust their GPs to guide them through the transition that new parenthood brings, and a strong therapeutic alliance acts as a stable and secure base. GPs, and the whole practice team, can provide evidence based, trauma-informed, quality health care when supporting families during these impactful biopsychosocial changes.

1. To apply principles of preventive medicine in preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum care
2. Discuss how to create a safe and holistic practice, utilising principles of whole person care during the perinatal period
3. To apply evidence-based tools when delivering perinatal care