Preparing for a Healthy Pregnancy: Jeanne Schumacher and Debra Shapiro, MD on PYP 420

The COVID-19 pandemic is not a great time to be pregnant, according to my guests, Jeanne Schumacher and Debra Shapiro of The Pregnancy Advantage. It is, on the other hand, a terrific time to prepare to get pregnant.

How does a woman do that, other than paint the nursery, give up booze, and buy a copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting?

By getting healthier, detoxifying her body and environment, and taking other personal actions that contribute to a healthier world for the next generation.

In our conversation, we cover the evidence linking maternal food choices and weight to the baby's health. In addition to the commonly known stuff about the relation of diet to disease, maternal obesity predicts a lower IQ for her infant. How's that for a good reason to get to a healthy weight?

We also talked about the importance of other lifestyle factors, including restorative sleep, stress reduction, exercise, and that illusive social support.

And – and this is what I found most shocking – about the toxic chemicals in our foods, our environment, and other skin care products and cosmetics that can wreak havoc on the mother and the fetus.

We also talked about how one person's actions can help others who are less fortunate. Given that freedom from air and water pollution and access to fresh produce are unfairly distributed by class, what can the privileged do to bring about a healthier world for all?

Enjoy, add your voice to the conversation via the comment box below, and please share – that's how we spread our message and spread our roots.

Links

The Pregnancy Advantage

Environmental Working Group's Healthy Living App

Research article: Understanding Epigenetic Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

Research article: The impact of prepregnancy obesity on children’s cognitive test scores

Research article: Early Life Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Childhood Obesity and Neurodevelopment

Review article: EDC-2: The Endocrine Society’s Second Scientific Statement on Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals

3-minute explainer video on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)

Wall Street Journal article about toxins in sunscreen (paywall protected)

Jeanne's favorite Latin music

Hombre G

Carlos Vives

<a href="https://www.