News for Expectant Mothers & Pregnant Moms
Mother's diet during pregnancy alters baby's DNA
A mother's diet during pregnancy can alter the DNA of her child and increase the risk of obesity, according to researchers.
The study, to be published in the journal Diabetes, showed that eating low levels of carbohydrate changed bits of DNA.
It then showed children with these changes were fatter.
The British Heart Foundation called for better nutritional and lifestyle support for women.
It is thought that a developing baby tries to predict the environment it will be born into, taking cues from its mother and adjusting its DNA.
Epigenetics
Studies in animals have shown that changes in diet can alter the function of genes - known as epigenetic change.
It is a growing field trying to understand how the environment interacts with genes.
In this study, the researchers took samples from the umbilical cord and looked for "epigenetic markers".
They showed that mothers with early pregnancy diets low in carbohydrates, such as sugars and starch, had children with these markers.
They then showed a strong link between those same markers and a child's obesity at ages six and nine.
Professor Keith Godfrey, who is from the University of Southampton and led the international study, told the BBC: "What is surprising is that it explains a quarter of the difference in the fatness of children six to nine years later."
The report says the effect was "considerably greater" than that of birth weight and did not depend on how thin or fat the mother was.
The changes were noticed in the RXRA gene. This makes a receptor for vitamin A, which is involved in the way cells process fat.
Professor Godfrey said: "It is both a fascinating and potentially important piece of research.
"All women who become pregnant get advice about diet, but it is not always high up the agenda of health professionals.
"The research suggests women should follow the advice as it may have a long term influence on the baby's health after it is born."
Professor Mark Hanson, of the British Heart Foundation, said: "This study provides compelling evidence that epigenetic changes, at least in part, explain the link between a poor start to life and later disease risk.
"It strengthens the case for all women of reproductive age having greater access to nutritional, education and lifestyle support to improve the health of the next generation, and to reduce the risk of the conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, which often follow obesity."
Was that there are not many hard and fast,foolproof, one size fits all kinda rules. Each pregnancy is different and so are the do's and don'ts. Whatever you do or don't, as long as your baby is born healthy and well, that's ultimately all that matters, Alhamdullilah!
All women to some degree change their diet when pregnant - they are lulled into a false sense of security.
My mother and her mother did not change their diet - they carried on regardless.
They ate cheese, pates, smoked and drank in some cases - they worked in the fields until the 40th week and then went back in there after giving birth.
I was actually one of those women that did not know they were pregnant until late on – even to this day 15 years later – people think I am lying.
I was 20 weeks before I was told I was pregnant – in that time – I had been to Glastonbury, drank a *hit load – ate cheese, had *ex, been scuba diving, ate Pate etc, etc!
Gave birth naturally, to a big lad who slept from week two and has never been a bother.
TLS! what can go wrong if I 'find' and 'replace' all 'NOs' in your 2nd last post with a white space?
You can use chilled beer to do the dishes with.
As people told me,my elder one is hyper-active, and by avoiding these things i can prevent my younger from being one...i dont know what is true but still i took maximum precautions this time.Earlier I was inmy in - laws house and that time i had a over plates of oily fried food with lots of spices and less of vegetables or fruits...So this time i took care... :)
Even stranger, no dishwashing liquid....
no garlic and onions.? strange...
I stopped doing few things the moment i got pregnant this time..
1- No use of garlic and onions at all
2- No use of fluoride toothpaste at all
3- No use of dish cleaning liquids for dishes,I used to wash them with warm water thoroughly.I used detergent only for heavy pot and pans
4- No use of refind oil
5- No use of scented creams or lotions or perfumes.
All were advised to me by Filipino/Italian/Indian friends only....
I hope this will help in future a lot in dealing with kids problems..
I m trying to be organic as much as possible...
Then we shall see posters saying 'breast beer is good for your child'
And 'formula beer' will be for the adults.
Women who drink more beer will have beer oozing out from their breasts too. So the baby can have beer directly from the breast!
Then the new born will cry for two things when hungry, beer followed by breast feed.
or "Bud" if is a boy
Yes Stella if female
Heineken if male
Then the baby gets named 'Stella'
What will happen if the pregnant woman drinks beer?