{"id":10798,"date":"2019-04-02T15:35:07","date_gmt":"2019-04-02T22:35:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.santamonicafertility.hk\/?p=10798"},"modified":"2019-04-02T15:55:19","modified_gmt":"2019-04-02T22:55:19","slug":"donor-eggs-epigenetics-will-the-baby-look-like-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.santamonicafertility.hk\/blog\/donor-eggs-epigenetics-will-the-baby-look-like-me\/","title":{"rendered":"Donor Eggs Epigenetics: Will The Baby Look Like Me?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Do birth mothers using donor eggs have a significant impact on the development and future health of their babies? The resounding answer is yes. Because the baby\u2019s DNA will only come from the egg donor and the sperm provider, many women using <\/span>egg donation<\/span><\/a> worry that they will not share any genetic information with their child. However, abundant research has shown us that the prenatal uterine environment plays a crucial role in <\/span>fetal brain development<\/span><\/a>, childhood metabolism , immune health, and numerous other factors. Read on to learn about the vital role your body will play in your future child\u2019s development.<\/span><\/p>\n There are several sensitive times during human development. The <\/span>preconception period<\/span><\/a> (or time before pregnancy) and <\/span>post-natal period<\/span><\/a> (the time after birth) play an important role in your baby\u2019s health. However, the most crucial point of time in human development is the time a child spends in the uterus. This period is known as the <\/span>prenatal window<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Historically, the uterus has been viewed as nothing more than an oven. While we\u2019ve known for generations that the uterus provides oxygen and nutrients to the baby, we have only recently started exploring just how<\/span> important the uterine environment<\/span><\/a> is in human development. New research on both humans and animals has shown us that the maternal environment influences brain development, metabolism, immune system function, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n From a biological perspective, this makes sense. The prenatal window allows a mother to prepare her baby for the outside world. A healthy uterus will communicate healthy environmental conditions to a baby. Unfortunately, unfavorable environmental conditions can also affect the baby negatively. One well-studied example of this phenomenon proves just how large of a role a mother\u2019s living conditions can play in her baby\u2019s development.<\/span><\/p>\n One of the first times that scientists were able to study the effects of maternal environment on the health of children was following World War 2. In the winter of 1944 and 1945, the German occupation caused a food delivery blockage in the Netherlands. This period, known as the<\/span> Dutch Hunger Winter<\/span><\/a>, led to widespread starvation and famine conditions. During this time, many Dutch people were eating as little as 400 calories a day. Children born during the Dutch Hunger Winter were studied decades later, and scientists found that these people grew up to have higher rates of obesity and diabetes than the general population.<\/span><\/p>\n During the famine, the starving mothers \u201ctold\u201d their fetuses that food supply was low and that their bodies must conserve calories. However, the famine ended after these babies were born, and they grew up in the food-abundant post-war era. These babies naturally developed metabolic conditions due to the uterine environments of their starving mothers, causing them to be predisposed to obesity and other weight-related health problems. The Dutch Hunger Winter is an example of just how powerful a mother\u2019s uterus can be to the health and development of her child.<\/span><\/p>\n While you probably won\u2019t endure conditions as stressful as the Dutch Hunger Winter during your pregnancy, the stressors in your daily life can still have an impact on your baby. While physical stressors obviously impact maternal health, new evidence has shown us that <\/span>maternal psychological stress<\/span><\/a> during pregnancy can increase the risk of adverse physical and mental outcomes for the baby.<\/span><\/p>\n Psychological stress causes a woman\u2019s cortisol levels to rise. Cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, can cross through the placenta and affect fetal brain development. Research has shown a link between elevated maternal <\/span>cortisol levels<\/span><\/a> and changes in childhood brain anatomy and cognitive performance. Psychological stress can also cause a maternal inflammatory response, which can lead to <\/span>inflammatory molecules<\/span><\/a> passing to your baby through the placenta as well. These inflammatory molecules can affect the nerve connections in the fetal brain, which can cause delayed cognitive development and contribute to emotional and behavioral problems as the child grows.<\/span><\/p>\n Inflammation due to maternal psychological stress can cause physical problems in your child as well. This inflammation can put your child at an increased risk for obesity, <\/span>insulin resistance<\/span><\/a>, abnormal lipid profiles, and immune system conditions. Stress is a part of everyone\u2019s daily life. However, it\u2019s important to remember that your psychological health can impact your child. If you are experiencing issues with your mental health, speak with your doctor. Together, you can create a plan to stay as <\/span>mentally healthy<\/span><\/a> as possible for your baby.<\/span><\/p>\n How do changes in your environment impact your growing fetus? We know that genes ultimately control all human processes; and if you are using donor eggs, these will be the genes of your egg donor. However, the switches that turn our genes on and off may play an even greater role in health and development. These switches are known as <\/span>epigenetic controls<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n The most studied form of epigenetic control involves silencing genes by the placement of a molecule called a methyl group (also known as <\/span>DNA<\/span><\/i> methylation<\/span><\/i><\/a> ). When scientists studied the children born during the Dutch Hunger Winter, they saw that the children had different methylation profiles. Scientists are currently studying a variety of epigenetic controls to better understand which conditions impact fetal development. We will explore other exciting developments on epigenetics \u00a0in future blog posts, so stay tuned.<\/span><\/p>\nThe Importance of the Prenatal Window<\/b><\/h2>\n
What We Can Learn From the Dutch Hunger Winter<\/b><\/h2>\n
Psychological Stress and the Health of Your Baby<\/b><\/h2>\n
How Your Genes Impact Your Baby: Understanding the Science<\/b><\/h2>\n
Improving Your Maternal Environment<\/b><\/h2>\n