Page 77 - Special Issue: Healthy Baby

Every human cell within a given human be- seventh week it begins sucking, touching its face, The heart of
ing has an identical set of genes, called a genome. hiccupping, frowning and making various other
These genes come in pairs: one copy from the spontaneous movements. the embryo
mother and one from the father. Sperm and egg At eight weeks, all organ systems are pres- beats by 23
cells are the exception to the rule and carry only ent and functioning at which point the growing days; its
one from each pair. By shuffling the maternal and organism is called a fetus. Out of 4,500 body
paternal genes into different combinations to pro- structures present in the adult, 4,000 are present brainwaves
duce each sperm or egg, a single man or woman at this eight-week point. The fetus has a firm grip, can be
could theoretically generate an incomprehensibly sucks its thumb and somersaults by four months; recorded at
greater number of combinations than the number in the beginning of the sixth month it nestles into
of atoms that make up the known universe, thus position to sleep, stretches upon waking and can 40 days.
ensuring that no two human beings on the face hear. 2
of the earth—save identical twins—will carry the At the turn of the third trimester, a dramatic
exact same genome. 1 increase in the likelihood that the infant will sur-
vive outside the womb if born prematurely takes
EMBRYONIC AND FETAL GROWTH place—from 15 percent at 23 weeks to 79 percent
During ovulation, an egg is released from the at 25 weeks. In the last half of this trimester,
3
ovary and moves into a tube called the oviduct. rapid growth takes place, especially in the skeletal
At conception, the sperm and egg combine within system. Infants born six weeks prematurely have
the oviduct to form a zygote. The genes from only half the calcium and phosphorus laid down
each parent combine into pairs and the zygote as infants carried to term. 4
possesses a new, unique genome that every cell None of this growth and development
into which it divides will inherit. can take place without nutrients. Fats and
Over the course of the first seven days, the carbohydrates fuel the growth. Fats and choles-
zygote divides into a hollow ball of cells as it terol form cell membranes. Amino acids form
moves through the oviduct toward the uterus. structural proteins and enzymes. Vitamins and
By the seventh day, it becomes embedded in the minerals act as cofactors for those enzymes or
uterine wall. At this point it is called an embryo. as regulators of the entire process of growth.
The heart of the embryo beats by day 23; These nutrients are uniquely supplied by the
its brainwaves can be recorded at day 40; in the mother’s diet.

ARTICLE SUMMARY
• Good maternal nutrition during pregnancy can protect the offspring from diabetes, stroke, heart disease, kidney
disease and memory loss later in life.
• Special preconception and pregnancy diets emphasizing foods dense in particular nutrients were universal among
the traditional groups that Weston Price studied.
• Modern science has shown that fat-soluble vitamins are necessary for growth and development; the omega-3 fatty
acid DHA is necessary for brain development; the need for biotin during pregnancy increases; folate boosts growth
and decreases the risk of birth defects; choline causes a lifelong increase in memory and attention; and the amino
acid glycine is required for growth.
• WAPF recommends a dose of high-vitamin cod liver oil per day to yield 20,000 IU of vitamin A, 2,000 IU of vitamin
D, and 2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (about 1 3/4 teaspoon per day).
• Grass-fed animal fats supply vitamins E and K2; palm oil, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and freshly ground grains
are also sources of vitamin E; fermented foods are also sources of vitamin K2. Leafy greens supply vitamin K1.
• Biotin can be obtained from liver and egg yolks. Raw egg whites should be strictly avoided and cooked egg whites
should be consumed in moderation. Egg yolks can be added to smoothies and ice cream to boost biotin status.
• Folate can be obtained from liver, legumes, beets and greens. Choline can be obtained from grass-fed dairy, egg
yolks, liver, meat, cruciferous vegetables, nuts, and legumes. Figure 7 provides examples of how to meet the folate
and choline requirements.
• Muscle meats and eggs should be liberally matched with the above folate-rich foods and with skin, bones and bone
broths to obtain glycine.

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