Environmental Hazards and Pregnancy

The LA Times has an excellent article that speaks to the importance of a healthy lifestyle when you’re pregnant. A concept called Fetal Programming is discussed that shows through scientific evidence that the future of a child’s health is largely dependent on what outside influences a woman is exposed to while pregnant. Some examples: low birth weight is linked to cardiovascular disease; a mother eating a high fat, high sugar diet while pregnant can equal a child more likely to become obese; a woman’s exposure to air pollutants can result in decreased lung function in the womb. Many of these influences such as alcohol, drugs, smoking, diet and medications are within a woman’s control. Mandy B. also wrote a very insightful post last month titled Green Pregnancy, where she discusses changes she made in her lifestyle while pregnant. I think what it comes down to is best summed up in the final statement of the LA Times Article; “Knowledge is power. The more you can know about having healthy babies, the better”.