Rohr, as one of 10 children with 29 nieces and nephews, has watched dozens of family members and friends navigate difficult pregnancies. In response, he is determined to be positive, empowering. “I always thought having a baby was normal,” she says. “It seems like this life-changing thing that I wanted to be so sure about.”
Doctors say that, in general, all this new attention around the “zero trimester” is a very good, happy development. Healthy mothers often report better outcomes for mother and child. Currently, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that doctors ask patients of childbearing age if they plan to become pregnant within a year during the exam. “There are many things we can do to improve the health of the bottom of that year that will improve pregnancy outcomes,” said Natalie Clark Stentz, an ob-gyn and reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at Michigan Medicine. This is especially true if you have a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, or thyroid disease, that needs to be managed and monitored during pregnancy.
At the same time, that “prep” must be tested by an expert and supported by science, and usually does not involve the TikTok Store. A doctor’s foresight toolbox is much simpler than you might see online, and it hasn’t changed much in decades: make sure vaccinations are up to date, avoid alcohol, stop smoking and drugs, start a prenatal vitamin with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects at least a month before conception, and check any prescription medications and supplements with your doctor. Only 5 percent of nutrition claims found on social media reviewed in the 2025 study referred to current international guidelines, and 54 percent were deemed to have “no evidence of a health effect.” TikTok and Instagram had a higher percentage of “unsubstantiated” claims than other platforms.
For example, raw milk is a favorite of those who call themselves “bad moms,” but unpasteurized milk can carry harmful bacteria such as listeria, which can cause miscarriage or harm the fetus. Excessive diet and exercise can work against your fertility, too, by affecting the hormones needed for pregnancy, says Kara Goldman, professor of ob-gyn and associate of reproductive and reproductive endocrinology and director of fertility preservation at Northwestern University. Recently, a patient with a history of estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer told me she had been taking beef organ supplements, not knowing until Goldman dug up the ingredients that the pills included “ovary” and “womb.” This meant she was unknowingly taking in more estrogen after years of avoiding unnecessary estrogen exposure. Additionally, organ meats such as the liver can contain vitamin A, which Stentz says can be “very dangerous” for pregnancy.
“Anything that’s busy is likely to be attractive, whether it’s Brazil nuts, organ meats, or whatever,” Stentz added. Have a normal BMI, stop smoking, choose a boring prenatal vitamin.
Pregnancy preparations can get expensive quickly. A month’s supply of Perelel’s “pregnancy support pack,” which includes prenatal, omega DHA + EPA, and CoQ12 + folate, costs $58.77. A full replacement of all kitchen Tupperware, cookware, and pans can run into the hundreds. Add in “gentle movements” like Pilates, natural products, a whole new set of cosmetics and skin care products, and it’s more affordable.
