Pregnancy is a complex stage marked by significant physiological changes for both mother and baby. During this period, various hormones and signalling pathways are active, making the body particularly sensitive to disturbances caused by external contaminants. This is the finding of a group of researchers from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), TELUQ University and Queen's University. They reviewed more than a dozen endocrine disruptors, substances that can affect health. They were particularly interested in those that can affect reproductive health, metabolism and mammary gland development during pregnancy. The placenta plays a crucial role in regulating the mother's physiology and the development of the fetus. It generates essential hormones during pregnancy. Any disturbance in its functioning can have repercussions on the health of both mother and child, whether in the short, medium or even long term.
Another study published in 2022 in the journal Jama Pediatrics would appear to show that reducing phthalate exposure by even 50% would reduce pre-term births by 1.1%.

This is why it is recommended that pregnant women consume homemade food as much as possible, and limit the use of hygiene products that contain endocrine disruptors, such as phthalates.
To find out how to spot endocrine disruptors, please refer to our answer: right here.

For further information, we recommend that you consult :

- INRS - Mother and child vulnerable to exposure to endocrine disruptors