Health
‘Trimester Zero’: What to Expect When You’re Expecting to Expect
Two millenniums ago, in the foothills of ancient Greece, the physician and philosopher Hippocrates described pregnancy in terms of bread-making. In the thousands of years since, “a bun in the oven” has emerged as a euphemistic image for childbearing. That is, until a study suggested, in 2019, that pregnancy more closely resembles completing an ultramarathon.
This newer metaphor has taken hold on social media, where the hashtags #preconception and #pregnancyprep exhibit women treating pregnancy like “the biggest race of your life, except you don’t know when the race actually starts.” As any serious competitor would, these contenders prepare for months or even years before their gestational events by optimizing their physical conditions and mental health. “Here’s how I’m prepping to get pregnant this year,” one woman says, poised with an iPad in one hand and an Apple Pencil in the other. The caption reveals a sprawling list: “cycle tracking,” “strengthening the pelvic floor, deep core and glutes,” “balanced meals,” “daily meditations” and “financial prep.” It also offers a discount code for her chosen brand of fertility supplements.
This preparatory stage is sometimes called Trimester Zero, riffing off a 2017 book by the sociologist Miranda Waggoner that examines how public health initiatives affect reproductive risk. On social media, however, the concept has evolved into a set of pregnancy “solutions” offered by influencers and online health gurus to the “trying to conceive” (T.T.C.) demographic. The “elite pregnancy prep expert” (and systems engineer) Alexandra Radway, for example, promises that her Baby Ready Body method — a comprehensive “nourish to flourish” plan — supports “engineering healthy, fit pregnancies.” “You wouldn’t summit Kilimanjaro in flip-flops,” she writes in one post. “Pregnancy deserves the same respect.” With the right course of action, the trend implies, you can ward off all undesirable outcomes — not just morning sickness and exhaustion but, as Radway has suggested, even breast cancer.
That kind of mind-set seems to appeal, in particular, to prospective parents feeling trepidation. “I just want to start off by saying that I’m fricking terrified,” Kaylie Stewart shares, in one of seven parts of her ongoing “Prepping for Pregnancy” series. Another post begins with a similar declaration of terror but breaks into a calming montage: a slow walk down a leafy path, a home-cooked breakfast and makeup applied in a fuzzy robe, all set to a mellow tune. The video itself follows a remedial arc, as if its initial anxiety were transmuted, by the structure provided by preparation, into calmer, more productive energy.
Stewart’s content might be soothing to viewers who share her concerns. But TikTok’s For You page can inundate prospective mothers with plenty of other supposed threats. On the podcast “Culture Apothecary,” for example — which pursues “raw, unpasteurized truths” — the conservative influencer Alex Clark parrots unsupported risks of fetal exposure to Tylenol; her “Ultimate Guide to Pre-Conception” identifies dangers like mold, nail polish and food ordered from DoorDash. A large subset of preconception content also zeros in on “nontoxic swaps” for cookware, cleaning supplies, clothing, makeup and air filtration; even the right brand of organic cotton underwear is important, one influencer suggests, “if we want to see our future grandbabies.” (According to this thinking, your fate was decided decades ago by the brand of your grandmother’s knickers.)
In case that pressure wasn’t enough, “prepregnancy glow-up” posts promote plans for becoming not only the healthiest but also the hottest version of yourself before giving birth. “Welcome to a new era,” Gabrielle Meloff announces, by way of transitioning her profile from bridal content to “How I’m Getting Hotter & Healthier Before Pregnancy,” a preconception playlist that complements mood boards envisioning “planning for a pregnancy like a wedding” (featuring images like San Pellegrino in wicker baskets and early 2000s Christy Turlington practicing yoga and towers of rolled-up towels, presumably made from organic cotton).
These fantasies have arisen in a distinctly pronatalist moment, as many continue to push for higher birth rates. Yet material support for having children remains scant. Perhaps women online are simply reading between the lines: It’s on them, and them alone, to create conditions conducive for children. The content that encourages men to partake in prenatal prepping seems only to reinforce that women are exclusively responsible: Husbands aren’t prepping themselves, per se, but being prepped by their wives — who are now tasked with replacing their briefs with boxers and serving up meticulously researched, “fertility boosting” meals from scratch every day, having been permanently scared away from takeout.
After all, a woman online is most celebrated when she treats herself as a never-ending project. Preconception content, then, seems less like practical advice and more like a narrative starting point that allows the story of your life to perform well on social media. Motherhood can be described as tedious, uncertain or isolating — or as the new, empowering chapter for a person devoted to optimization. As one post — a slide show with Hermès baby blankets, bubble baths and freshly cut bouquets — reminds viewers, preparation for motherhood is also preparation “for life.” Its caption could describe any number of contemporary journeys, especially those that live on the internet: “What looks extreme to others is usually just preparation for the future they can’t see yet.”
Kim Hew-Low is an Australian writer living in Brooklyn.
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Just four minutes of daily strength exercises can dramatically improve mobility, balance and leg strength in older adults, per new research from the Penn State College of Medicine.
Standard public health guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. However, the study suggests that fewer than one in five older adults meet the recommended muscle-strengthening guidelines.
The research team designed a home-based program called Functional Activity Strength Training, or FAST-2. They evaluated 97 sedentary participants 65 and older, with an average age of 74.
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Before entering the study, these individuals were averaging just 18 minutes of total physical activity each week.
The older adults were randomly split into two groups, with one group performing the daily exercise routine and the other serving as a control group that received no intervention, according to the study’s press release.
Just four minutes of daily home strength training can significantly improve mobility, balance and leg strength in older adults, according to a Penn State College of Medicine study. (iStock)
Participants performed four basic movements for 30 seconds each, separated by 30-second rest intervals. The entire routine lasted exactly four minutes. The circuit consisted of push-ups, chair stands, two-arm resistance-band rows and stair stepping.
To keep the routine accessible, researchers provided written explanations and simple modifications. For example, participants could perform push-ups against a kitchen counter or wall, or use their hands on their knees for support during chair stands.
Participants were also given four elastic resistance bands and an adjustable step platform.
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“Exercise is actually really complicated, because you have to decide how many repetitions, how far, how many sets, how much rest and how many times per week,” co-author Smita Dandekar, associate professor of pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine, said in the press release.
“It’s hard work … so if we can make it short, we’re part [of the] way there.”
The program consisted of four basic movements: push-ups, chair stands, resistance-band rows and stair stepping. (iStock)
As the participants grew stronger, they were encouraged to progress to higher levels of difficulty, such as transitioning away from modifications or increasing the height of the stepper.
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After 12 weeks, the results suggested that a tiny dose of regular exercise could yield noticeable physical benefits. In a 30-second chair-stand test, the exercise group performed an average of 4.2 more repetitions than the control group.
“These indicators … give you a sense of whether or not you’re going to be able to be active in the future.”
The adults doing the exercises also shaved 2.3 seconds off their time during a test measuring how they could stand up and sit down five times consecutively. Furthermore, they extended their one-legged balance time by an average of 3.6 seconds.
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The researchers emphasized that these specific measurements are critical medical indicators of an older adult’s future health.
By keeping the routine ultra-short, researchers eliminated common barriers like time constraints and exhaustion, resulting in an exceptionally high 81% workout completion rate. (iStock)
“These indicators predict your future ability to go into a nursing home, your future likelihood of falling and of developing difficulty walking,” noted lead author Christopher Sciamanna, professor of medicine and of public health at Penn State College of Medicine, in the press release.
“They give you a sense of whether or not you’re going to be able to be active in the future.”
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While traditional home exercise programs generally see low engagement, the participants in this study successfully completed their workouts on 81% of the tracked days, according to the researchers.
After 12 weeks, exercising seniors gained the ability to complete an average of four more chair-stand repetitions than those who did not exercise. (iStock)
The study had several noted limitations. As it tracked a relatively small sample size of fewer than 100 individuals over a brief 12-week time frame, it is unknown whether these mobility gains can be sustained long-term.
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Additionally, the researchers did not specify the exact dropout rates or detail how the routine might affect seniors who already relied on assistive devices like walkers or canes.
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Because the final trial results reflected a specific group of participants who met the entry criteria, further investigation is required to determine whether the short routine can safely benefit older adults facing more severe physical limitations or cognitive decline.
The study was published in the journal PLOS One.
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Jill Smokler, founder of Scary Mommy, has died at age 48 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The popular “mommy blogger” had been fighting the disease for the past two years, according to an announcement posted on ScaryMommy.com on Monday.
The stay-at-home mother of three launched the blog in 2008 as a place to share the “joys and pitfalls” of parenting, according to the article.
As Scary Mommy expanded from a personal blog into a major parenting brand, Smokler built a following with her honest, often self-deprecating take on motherhood. She went on to speak at blogging conferences, author bestselling books, appear on national television programs and earn three Webby Awards, her biography states.
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“Jill spent her life telling the truth about motherhood — that it could be wonderful and impossible in the very same breath — and in doing so, she gave millions of women permission to stop pretending and feel a little less alone,” her family shared in a statement following her passing.
Jill Smokler, founder of Scary Mommy (pictured in 2018), has died at age 48 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock)
“She was funny, fearless, generous and entirely herself. More than anything she built, Jill was proudest of her three children, Lily, Ben and Evan. We are heartbroken to lose her, and endlessly proud of the mark she left on the world.”
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Smokler’s first sign of the disease was in April 2024, when she experienced a sudden seizure. She then underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, after which she didn’t recognize her own children, she previously shared with Today.
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“I am definitely grateful that I don’t remember the looks on their faces when I didn’t recognize them,” she said. “That must have been gutting.”
Smokler was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults and one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. There is currently no cure.
About 13.9% of all brain tumors are glioblastomas, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. (iStock)
Following surgery, the blogger underwent radiation and chemotherapy, during which she was open about her treatment side effects, including fatigue and hair loss. Additional surgeries and clinical trials followed, according to previous interviews.
“Thank you, Jill, for everything. May you rest in peace,” the Scary Mommy post concluded.
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About 13.9% of all brain tumors are glioblastomas, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. More than 12,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
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Median survival is approximately 12 to 18 months after diagnosis, even with treatment. Only about 5% to 7% of patients survive five years after diagnosis, data shows.
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Common food preservatives may contribute to higher risks of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, according to a large French study.
Researchers analyzed data from 112,395 adults averaging 42 years of age, assessing their detailed dietary intake with an average follow-up of nearly eight years.
Among the participants, 5,544 developed hypertension during the follow-up period, and 2,450 experienced cardiovascular disease events.
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Higher consumption of total non-antioxidant preservatives was associated with a 29% greater risk of hypertension and a 16% higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Higher consumption of total antioxidant preservatives was linked to a 22% spike in hypertension risk.
Common food preservatives may contribute to higher risks of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, according to a large French study. (iStock)
Out of the 17 preservative additives consumed by at least 10% of participants, eight in particular were associated with higher rates of hypertension, including the following.
- Potassium sorbate
- Sorbic acid
- Sodium nitrite
- Potassium nitrite
- Sodium metabisulphite
- Potassium metabisulphite
- Citric acid
- Tripotassium citrate
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Only one of the preservatives – ascorbic acid, which is the food additive form of vitamin C – was significantly associated with higher cardiovascular disease risk.
The finding does not mean that dietary vitamin C itself causes cardiovascular disease, the researchers noted. The study examined ascorbic acid in the form used as a food additive in processed foods, not vitamin C from fruits, vegetables or supplements.
Out of the 17 preservative additives consumed by at least 10% of participants, eight in particular were associated with higher rates of hypertension. (iStock)
The findings were published in the European Heart Journal.
“This is a very important study that puts together what we already know – that preservatives of all kinds raise blood pressure and contribute directly to heart disease and stroke over eight years,” Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital.
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“Whereas potassium itself can lower blood pressure, the additive potassium sorbate has previously been found to be associated with hypertension in a large study in the European Heart Journal,” the doctor, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “Potassium metabisulphite was also found to raise pressure in the same study.”
The same was found for sodium nitrite in the new study, Siegel noted, with 73% of participants consuming it regularly – “mostly in processed foods like hot dogs, ham, bacon and deli meats.”
“Preservatives of all kinds raise blood pressure and contribute directly to heart disease and stroke over eight years,” a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“This has been found in previous research for many years,” he added.
Siegel also discussed the 22% increased risk linked to ascorbic acid. “I am dubious about this association, as it has not generally been found before, but perhaps the risk is when it is used as a chemical preservative.”
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“For all the sodium additives, this is expected, but surprising with extracts of rosemary and citric acid – the key to both of these ingredients is when they are used as preservatives (chemicals),” he added.
Potential limitations
As this was an observational study, it could not prove that the additives caused the health conditions.
Also, the participants who volunteered for the study were generally healthier, more educated and more often female than the general French population, the researchers noted.
As this was an observational study, it could not prove that the additives caused the health conditions. (FG Trade / Getty Images)
There was also the chance that hypertension was underdiagnosed in some participants.
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While the researchers estimated people’s dietary intake as accurately as possible, there was a chance that some consumption was inaccurately reported.
The authors emphasized that these findings need to be confirmed in further research of other populations.
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If the results are replicated in future research, some food preservatives may face additional safety reviews focused on their effects on the cardiovascular system, the researchers suggested.
“The take-home is to use natural ingredients as much as possible, and especially beware of sodium chemical preservatives when it comes to risk of heart disease and stroke from associated hypertension,” Siegel concluded.
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