Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Choices and Epigenetics

Before I get pregnant I want to change my lifestyle. I want to get healthier. I want to be stronger. I want to eat better. I want to make being active an everyday thing. I want to take control of my body.

I want to make sure that I am creating the best possible environment for zygote to develop into embryo and into fetus and then into baby.

Some people have told me I'm taking this body thing too seriously. I'm told most people didn't do anything to get ready to be pregnant, apparently, and I should just take my pre-nats and get to procreating.

Now, some people I know really didn't need to make any physical adjustments. They were already living very nutritious and active lifestyles and so were baby body ready.

I, on the other hand, don't feel ready and I know that if I were to get pregnant now I would be putting myself and my offspring at risks.

Epigenetics shows that the environment of the fetus can affect the way genes are expressed. the I just read an interesting article explaining some of the ways the mother's body effects the child and how they have tested it. Fetuses are extremely delicate and loads of chemical reactions are happening in the womb. My introducing the wrong chemicals, or by not having enough of the right ones, you can cause your fetus's genes to express themselves differently. This can lead to birth defects and long term physical problems like obesity, ADHD, and so on. If that article wasn't enough to get you paranoid, this article explains in even greater detail ways that the choices I make about my body, what I eat, if I exercise, and which chemicals I allow myself to have will impact my fetus. ARGH.

I need to get myself into the right habits NOW while it is easy instead of waiting until I'm hormonal and scared and excited and already providing an incubator for my human experiment.

If my period is ever late my first thought is OH GOD WHAT HAVE I EATEN AND DRANK LATELY??? I'm so paranoid that I'm going to eat or drink my baby into failure.

Dear Baby Maze, your incubator was powered by organic local hot dogs. Sorry about the ADHD. Love, Mom

I read in a conception book that you should prepare for conception for at least six months, making the necessary changes to nutrition so that your body is ready to support your zygote as soon as the egg meets sperm.

What did you do to get ready for conception? Do you think it made a difference?

Annotated Bibliography

How a pregnant woman's health choices could shape a child's health. Jon Hamilton. NPR. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/09/23/224387744/how-a-pregnant-womans-choices-could-shape-a-childs-health, 23 Sept 13


How maternal nutrition affects fetus. Clare Collins.  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/158397.php 22 Jul 09

http://www.parenting.com/article/the-new-science-of-mother-baby-bonding?page=0,3
Information about how bad parenting and abuse lead to severe impairments later in life.

3 comments:

  1. I got off all medications (other than the hormone I need for hypothyroidism which I still checked with my OB about because it's not risk free) everything from caffeine and Tylenol to anti anxiety medications I'd been talking for panic attacks. I stuck to a work out routine, got bimonthly massages (to help manage my anxiety naturally) and did yoga twice a week. I ate a balanced diet (with the occasional splurge on homemade chocolate cake) and took prenatal vitamins. I read a couple books, went to all my appointments and focused all my loving and peaceful energy toward my growing fetus. I also prayed.

    My family supported me every step of the way.

    And I have the happiest, calmest, fun loving, persistent, confident, smartest, healthiest baby I know. People, including her pediatrician tell me so.

    But alas, my anecdote is but correlation. I can't go back and scientifically prove with the same fetus not doing those things would affect her negatively.

    But like I've said before, with love + Education, why wouldn't you do everything in your power to tilt the odds in your baby's favor?

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  2. Suggestions for future topics: maternal diet and allergies, formula and gut health

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    1. That's a great idea. I'm just starting a book a friend loaned me about maternal diet and I'll be doing some other research as well. I'll post what I learn along the way.

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