Santo Domingo.- The maternal-fetal health specialist, Dr. Francisco Soto Lucena, warned this weekend about the influence of age on the development of pregnancy, and specified that both adolescents and women over 35 years of age face specific risks that require medical attention. specialized.
The importance of preconception consultation to identify and control risk factors before conception was one of the points addressed in the conference “Risk factors that can complicate pregnancy”, offered by the doctor at the Maternal Health Fair, organized in Acropolis Plaza by the Dominican section of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG RD, in its acronym in English).
Dr. Soto Lucena recommended the practice of healthy lifestyle habits and folic acid consumption at least 3 months before pregnancy to reduce the chances of complications during pregnancy.
Another important risk factor, according to the Women’s Care Center specialist, are pre-existing health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, autoimmune diseases and polycystic ovaries, which can increase complications during pregnancy.
Dr. Soto Lucena also emphasized the importance of lifestyle, warning that alcohol and tobacco consumption, as well as lack of physical activity, can negatively affect the baby’s health.
He explained to an audience made up of dozens of pregnant women and medical students that conditions may arise during pregnancy that require exhaustive medical follow-up, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and multiple pregnancies.
Dr. Soto Lucena’s conference serves as a call to the medical community and the general public to prioritize prenatal care and the prevention of complications during pregnancy.
About the Maternal Health Fair
The ACOG RD celebrated this weekend the first edition of the Maternal Health Fair 2025 with the aim of raising awareness among women and their families about the importance of care, prevention and well-being in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.
The opening of the activity was led by obstetrician-gynecologists Jenny García Salazar, president of the ACOG RD, and Roberto Nina, president of the Dominican Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (SDOG), respectively.
The fair offered a variety of activities for attendees, including informative talks by more than 10 specials, ultrasound and pap smear demonstrations, prenatal exercises and breastfeeding guidance.
The president of ACOG RD also took the opportunity to announce her plans to continue the fight against maternal mortality through medical training, community education and the promotion of public policies that benefit mothers and their babies.
“We want to continue training doctors in the early detection of complications and educating families about the importance of self-care during pregnancy,” said Dr. García Salazar. “We will also continue to promote measures to prevent the first cesarean section and care for vaginal birth after previous cesarean sections.”
In her intervention, Dr. García Salazar highlighted that “maternal health is a reflection of the reality of a country” and highlighted that this fair seeks to promote greater equity in births and raise awareness about the importance of caring for pregnant women.
The specialist was also optimistic about the reduction in maternal deaths in the country, which last year recorded 123 deaths per 100,000 births, with main causes associated with hypertension during pregnancy, hemorrhages and postpartum infections.
The activity had the support of the Gynecology and Obstetrics and Perinatal Medicine Societies, the collaboration of health professionals and private institutions such as the Reference, Amadita, Mallén and Rowe laboratories, as well as Profamilia, Fetal Plus, Procaps, Capellán and Cordero , Electromedical, ARS Futuro, Café Santo Domingo, the Research Center for Women’s Action (Cipaf), among others.
A day dedicated to maternal health
The fair developed a wide range of activities, including educational talks on various topics related to pregnancy and postpartum, as well as demonstrations of contraceptive methods recommended after childbirth and obstetric sonography.
In addition, a support space for breastfeeding was set up, along with workshops that teach how to perform the Pap smear and stations where attendees can take weight, height and blood pressure measurements.
Likewise, the event included recreational activities that encouraged the participation of attendees, raffles with attractive prizes and the delivery of gifts and product samples provided by the fair’s sponsors. All this reinforces the comprehensive nature of the initiative, which combines medical information with a friendly and close approach towards women.
Exhibitors and topics
Renowned specialists addressed essential topics for maternal health, among the first presentations were “Maternal Mortality”, by Dr. Milcíades Albert, and “The importance of preconception consultation”, presented by Dr. Elisa Fernández de Scheker, both former presidents of ACOG RD.
Also the conference “Maternal Health in the Dominican Republic”, given by Dr. Martín Ortiz, director of the Maternal and Child Program of the National Health Service; “Breastfeeding” led by Dr. Mayra Molina, president of the Dominican Society of Perinatal Medicine (SODOMEP) and “The importance of prenatal control”, by Dr. Yotin Pérez.
Other relevant topics presented were “Vaccines in pregnancy”, by Dr. Julio Gonell, one of the founders of ACOG RD; “The Pap smear before and during pregnancy”, presented by Dr. Miguel Urbáez, coordinator of the Gynecology and Obstetrics residency at the Universidad Central del Este (UCE); and “Nutrition in pregnancy”, by Dr. Sumay Rodríguez Heinsen.
Likewise, “Risk factors that can complicate pregnancy”, by Dr. Francisco Soto Lucena; and the psychologists Altagracia Valdez and Angy Estévez, together with the neuro-coach Emma Fernández, had presentations on self-care, mental health, emotional vulnerability during pregnancy and postpartum depression.
An event with international support
The Maternal Health Fair had its roots in an initiative created in 2016 by the New Jersey chapter of ACOG District III, under the name “Maternal Health Awareness Day.”
This idea has been adopted and expanded by ACOG RD, which is part of an international network that brings together obstetrician-gynecologists from around the world. The organization is widely recognized for its research, publications and clinical guides, as well as for its commitment to promoting public policies that promote women’s health at all stages of their lives.
The national directive
The ACOG RD board is led by Dr. Jenny García Salazar as president, along with Dr. Agustín Díaz Rodríguez as vice president, Dr. Elisa Fernández as past president, Dr. Milcíades Albert as advisor, Dr. Ascanio Bencosme as treasurer and Dr. Eugenia Rodríguez as secretary.
In the “Junior Fellow” section, the board is made up of Dr. Tanya Pablo as president, Dr. Yotin Pérez as past president, Dr. Nicole Marrero as advisor, Dr. Kristell Matos as vice president and Dr. Victoria Reynoso as vice president-elect.
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