How Mothers Can Optimise Their Child’s Health Throughout Preconception and Pregnancy

Laurence is joined by Naturopath and researcher, Joanne McNeill to discuss how a mother's health throughout pre-conception and pregnancy can greatly affect not only the child's health, but the family’s generational health and wellbeing.

Joanne and Laurence offer simple lifestyle interventions and what key nutrients mothers, and mothers to be can implement into their daily routine.

• Laurence and Joanne discuss recent research into inheritance of genetic expression and health.

• Defining environmental exposure and an example of the causal link between environmental exposure and genetic expression- the Dutch Famine.

• The critical window for Mothers- 3-4 months prior to conception.

• Nutritional status- one of the most important factors of a mother's lifestyle to consider during preconception. Let's consider the connection between weight loss, fertility and the health of your child.

• How to approach metabolic health and body composition with your Practitioner, and the benefits of visiting a Practitioner during preconception. Laurence and Joanne also offer a useful resource to easily track your nutrients during pregnancy.

• Although looking at nutrition holistically is beneficial, a few key nutrients are worth focussing on throughout pregnancy- Folic Acid, Iron, Folate, B Vitamins, Choline, DHA, Iodine and Vitamin D.

• The profound impact of supplementation of EPA/DHAs throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding, including helping the mother go full term and reducing risk of the child developing atopic conditions such as allergies and eczema.

• How sufficient Vitamin D intake by the mother can reduce the risk of immune conditions and improve neurodevelopment for the child.

• The microbiome of the mother and epigenetics of the baby- will taking probiotics during pregnancy effect the baby? Which strains should you be taking?

• If you're considering renovating your home in preparation for your newborn, consider toxic exposure.

• How to diversify your child’s microbiome to build his or her immune system –green time, playing with pets, reduce contact with antimicrobials.