We all have learned how the maternal experiences and struggles during pregnancy profoundly influence the unborn child. From nutritional deficiency to emotional stress, every choice and challenge shapes baby development. These invisible connections between biology and love remind us how the mother's journey is deep-rooted in relation to the lifelong health of her offspring.

Newborn health has been the focus of research in medicine and science for quite some time now, as the early years of life usually lay the groundwork for long-term health. New research has begun to reveal just how maternal factors, such as the effects of the X chromosome and vitamin D levels during pregnancy, shape the health trajectory of a newborn. These findings unravel the intricate interplay between genetics, epigenetics, and maternal contributions in brain health and development, bringing new insights into how we approach neonatal care.

How Does the Maternal DNA Work?

The maternal X chromosome, teeming with genetic material, plays a pivotal role, perhaps impairing memory and cognitive abilities over time. Recent research indicates a significant correlation between the DNA of a mother and her baby's brain health and aging process. Studies on mice indicate that maternal genes may accelerate biological aging in the hippocampus—a brain region crucial for learning.

Moreover, silenced genes on the maternal X chromosome may have keys to cognitive development. When combined with health factors related to the mother, such as the vitamin D level during pregnancy, this complex genetic dance underscores how a mother's DNA profoundly shapes the lifelong health trajectory of her baby. An interesting study has found that the X chromosome inherited from the mother could hasten brain aging in offspring, thus increasing the susceptibility of diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Though women have two X chromosomes and men have one X and one Y, the genetic material of the X chromosome is very important. Mutations or changes in this chromosome can greatly affect brain health.

Researchers have found that in females, one X chromosome is randomly inactivated in each cell, a phenomenon that may explain some of the individual differences in brain health outcomes. Although women typically live longer and have a lower overall dementia rate than their male counterparts, Alzheimer's disease disproportionately affects females, often raising questions about the underlying genetic mechanism.

Dena Dubal and Abdulai-Saiku led research into the impact of maternal X chromosomes on brain health. They found that female mice with an active maternal X chromosome showed accelerated biological aging in the hippocampus, a region of the brain important for learning and memory. These mice also showed worse cognitive abilities as they aged compared to those with contributions from both maternal and paternal X chromosomes.

Interestingly, the cognitive abilities of aged female mice improved when researchers used CRISPR gene-editing technology to activate silenced genes on the maternal X chromosome. This finding underscores the importance of the genetic expression of the maternal X chromosome in influencing brain health.

It thus provokes the mind with such a question, where maternal genetic contribution is actually found shaping brain development and aging in human. Should similar mechanisms prevail, targeted therapies may prevent the decline that typically accompanies the passing of age to improve general health of the brain.

How Even Vitamin D Is A Critical Factor in Neonatal Health?

Another dimension of maternal influence over the health of newborns is vitamin D level in pregnancy. Deficiency of vitamin D has been one of the most common problems, especially among pregnant women in Asia. Several adverse health conditions have also been correlated with vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D's influence extends beyond its well-known role in bone health. Emerging evidence highlights its epigenetic effects, such as programming fetal development and shaping immune cell function. One critical epigenetic mechanism is DNA methylation, which predicts biological age and reflects developmental processes.

A Japanese study published in Nutrients looked into the impact of maternal vitamin D on epigenetic gestational age acceleration-a biomarker for neonatal and adult health. The results found that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may affect the development of a fetus, placing newborns at risk for infections, obesity, and other health-related issues later in life.

Given the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, these findings highlight the importance of intensive prenatal care, including monitoring and supplementation of maternal vitamin D levels. Correction of this deficiency may have a significant role in improving neonatal outcomes and laying the foundation for healthier adulthood.

Also Read: Is Father Equally Responsible For Baby's Health?

Role of X Chromosomes in Baby's Brain Development

X chromosomes have long been recognized as critical to brain health. Previous research has linked mutations in the X chromosome to intellectual disabilities and cognitive impairments. For instance, women with Turner Syndrome, who have only one X chromosome, often experience cognitive challenges.

This genetic influence might also explain differences in cognitive abilities, verbal memory, and susceptibility to brain disorders between sexes. The maternal X chromosome, as highlighted in recent studies, appears to be particularly influential in shaping these outcomes.

The intricate relationship between maternal factors and newborn health underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach to prenatal care. Key takeaways include:

Genetic Contributions

Maternal genes, especially the X chromosome, may therefore play a large role in cognitive health and aging.

Nutritional Interventions

Fixing maternal deficiency in vitamin D may mitigate potential risks associated with developmental and long-term health concerns.

Future Research

Further research on the contribution of mothers to their health, furthered by the development of newer technologies such as CRISPR, promises to bring significant advancements in neonatal and adult healthcare.

Understanding the profound implications of maternal health on newborns changes the focus of neonatal care. From genetic effects to the significance of nutrients, such as vitamin D, research emphasizes the demand for an all-inclusive approach that is more science-based about maternal and neonatal health. As researchers explore the links of maternal factors in long-term wellbeing, healthcare facilities around the globe must evolve towards better support systems, education programs, and intervention strategies for would-be mothers.

This developing field of research reminds us that the journey to a healthy life begins long before birth, in the intricate bond between mother and child.

The maternal X chromosome affects cognition and brain ageing in female mice. Nature (2025)

Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency Is a Risk Factor for Infants’ Epigenetic Gestational Age Acceleration at Birth in Japan: A Cohort Study.Nutrients 2025

Getting children to be active and socialize is a big part of parenting. Even kids, no matter how energetic they are, like lazing around and relaxing. However, this habit can catch on quick, but they are not entirely at fault for it.

A new study has found a strong connection between what parents do and how active their kids are. It turns out that children are more likely to be "couch potatoes" or full of energy based on what they see their moms and dads doing every day.

In a study published in the journal Sports Medicine and Health Science. Researchers showed that when parents have an active routine, their children are less likely to sit still for long periods. The study followed 182 kids and their parents for a week and found that children of inactive parents were more sedentary, while those with active parents were more active themselves.

Do Mothers Influence Their Kids More Than Fathers?

Interestingly, the study discovered that mothers have more than twice the influence of fathers on their children's physical activity. This finding held true even when the researchers considered other things like the family’s income or the child’s age. The experts believe that active parents not only know how important exercise is but also actively encourage their kids. They might be more likely to limit screen time and support activity by taking their children to the park, buying sports equipment, or setting up games in the backyard.

How Can We Encourage Kids to Be More Active?

While a lack of time or safe places to play can make it hard for kids to be active, this study highlights how important a parent's example is. The results suggest that by promoting active habits within families, we can improve the health of the next generation. The researchers believe these findings can be used to create public campaigns and policies that encourage families to live a more active lifestyle together.

How Can Lack Of Activity in Children Affect Their Health?

According to the American Heart Association, physical activity is vital for everyone, but it’s especially important for helping children grow into healthy adults. They suggests that kids and teens (ages 6–17) should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. In a world full of digital distractions, it can be a challenge to get kids moving, but teaching them healthy habits now can set them up for a lifetime of well-being.

Kids are naturally active, but they often become less so as they get older, especially girls. If your child's interests change, that's okay—the key is to help them find a new activity they enjoy.

• Be active yourself and find ways to get the whole family moving together.
• Encourage your kids to choose activities they genuinely like. Don't use physical activity as a form of punishment.
• Reduce the amount of time they spend on devices, watching TV, or playing video games.
• Give them toys and equipment like bikes, skateboards, and balls.
• Encourage them to join sports or other activities like dance or swimming. Explore local parks, pools, and bike paths.
• If your child is currently inactive, begin with small, gradual steps to avoid injury or discouragement.
• Reward and encourage your kids for their efforts to help them stay motivated.

Imagine going to bed after a long road trip and waking up in the middle of the night with what feels like food poisoning, only to find yourself giving birth in a hotel bathroom.

That’s exactly what happened to Helen Green, 45, during a family vacation in Toronto, Canada. Helen had no baby bump, no missed periods, no morning sickness, nothing to suggest she was pregnant. But just hours after checking into their Holiday Inn room, Helen suddenly felt the urge to push.

“I had no idea what was happening, my body just took over,” she said, as the New York Post reports. After two intense pushes, she gave birth right there in the bathroom, delivering a healthy baby girl, Olivia, into her own arms.

Her husband, Michael, woke up to the sound of a crying newborn.

When Pregnancy Hides: The Reality of Cryptic Pregnancies

Helen’s experience is not just rare, it’s medically recognized. She had what doctors call a cryptic pregnancy (sometimes called a stealth pregnancy).

A cryptic pregnancy is when a person doesn’t realize they are pregnant until very late in the pregnancy, or, in some cases, until labor starts.

While most people find out they are pregnant between 4–12 weeks, usually after missing a period, cryptic pregnancies go unnoticed because there are no obvious symptoms, or the symptoms are mistaken for something else (stress, perimenopause, food issues, etc.).

Experts estimate that about 1 in 475 pregnancies go undetected until 20 weeks, and about 1 in 2,500 remain hidden until delivery, just like Helen’s.

Why It Happens

There are several medical and hormonal reasons why a pregnancy can go undetected:

Perimenopause or PCOS: Irregular cycles can mask a missed period.

Recent childbirth: If you’re still breastfeeding, ovulation can be unpredictable, leading you to believe you can’t get pregnant.

Birth control use: Even with perfect use, there’s still a chance of pregnancy, which can make symptoms easy to dismiss.

False negatives on pregnancy tests: Rare, but possible if taken too early or incorrectly.

No pregnancy symptoms: Some people simply don’t experience nausea, breast tenderness, or weight gain.

A Medical and Emotional Shock

For Helen, the shock was doubled by her history, she had experienced multiple miscarriages after the birth of her first daughter and believed she was entering perimenopause.

“I worked, exercised, wore the same clothes and ate the same food as usual,” she said. “Even the doctors at the hospital were surprised.”

Listen to Your Body

Cryptic pregnancies are rare, but they highlight an important health message: never ignore sudden, unexplained changes in your body.

If you’re experiencing unusual bleeding, bloating, weight changes, or persistent fatigue, especially if you’re in perimenopause or on birth control, it’s worth talking to a healthcare provider and getting tested.

Because as shocking as Helen’s story sounds, it’s a reminder that pregnancy can still surprise you, even at 45, even without symptoms, and even on vacation.

For months, the parents of 12-year-old Rahul were puzzled by his strange behavior at the dinner table. He would suddenly stop eating, stare blankly, twitch his lips, and rest his head on the table, only to resume eating a few minutes later as if nothing had happened. His parents initially dismissed this as fussiness or "temper tantrums."

At first, Rahul's parents thought his strange behavior at the dinner table was just him being difficult. But when he started getting really bad headaches that kept him from playing sports and doing his schoolwork, they knew something was wrong and took him to a doctor. The headaches looked a lot like migraines at first.

But when his parents mentioned the strange way he acted while eating, Dr Sudhir Kumar MD immediately had a suspicion. This seemingly small detail was the key to understanding what was happening. It turned out Rahul had a rare condition called Eating Epilepsy, where the act of chewing and swallowing can cause seizures. A special video test while he was eating finally confirmed the diagnosis, showing that his odd behavior was actually a type of seizure.

This is a real-life case Neurologist Sudhir Kumar posted on his social media X. He detailed the case and highlighted this rare-form of epilepsy.

What is Eating Epilepsy?

According to the European Journal of Epilepsy, eating epilepsy is a rare condition where seizures are triggered by eating. Though it can look different from person to person, some common patterns have been found through a review of 52 studies involving 378 patients.

This review, which looked at studies published before March 2020, aimed to better understand this unique disorder. Here's what the research found:

Eating seizures most often begin in a person's teenage years, and they are more common in males.

The seizures are typically focal-onset, meaning they start in a specific area of the brain. Most commonly, they are a type called focal impaired awareness seizures, where the person appears to be awake but isn't fully aware of their surroundings.

In the studies, 80% of the patients were treated with medication. However, about 25% of them had poor control over their seizures, meaning the medication didn't work very well.

How Was Eating Seizures Treated in Rahul?

Dr Sudhir explained that once he knew what was wrong, they were able to help Rahul right away. They gave him the proper medication to control the seizures, and they also treated his migraines. Within a month, his headaches were much better, and he was able to eat without any problems. Six months later, Rahul was back to being a normal, happy kid. He could eat, play, and study without fear. The whole family was relieved that the stressful dinner-time episodes were finally over.

Dr Sudhir’s Lessons For Medical Professionals

This case offers several important lessons for junior doctors, said Dr Sudhir in his post. He listed 5 crucial points that all medical professionals should remember when treating patients.

Listen carefully to the patient's history. What parents describe as "tantrums" or "fussiness" might be a sign of a neurological disorder.

Consider rare conditions. Be aware of reflex epilepsies, which can be triggered by specific actions like eating, reading, or flashing lights.

Use diagnostic tools wisely. A video EEG, where the suspected trigger is provoked under medical supervision, can be the only way to confirm a rare epilepsy.

Treat all conditions. Rahul had both epilepsy and migraines. Addressing both of these issues was key to dramatically improving his quality of life.

Show empathy. Reassuring and addressing the family's concerns is just as important as prescribing the right medication.

He ended the post with a cautious note “Not all unusual behaviors in children are "habits" or "tantrums." Sometimes, they may signal an underlying medical condition. Timely medical attention can make all the difference.”