The Hidden Chemistry of Motherhood: Why Everyday Products Matter Before, During, and After Pregnancy
The Obstetric Intellect - A custom prompt to check for problem ingredients
Disclaimer: OI ChemCheck is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not diagnose, treat, or replace consultation with your qualified healthcare provider. Always discuss any product or health concerns with your physician or obstetrician.
When we talk about preparing for pregnancy, we often focus on vitamins, nutrition, and avoiding alcohol. But few of us stop to ask a more uncomfortable question: what’s inside the shampoo, lotion, or sunscreen we use every day?
The answer, increasingly, is a complex mix of synthetic chemicals—some harmless, others less so—that can influence fertility, fetal development, and even long-term child health. For decades, chemical safety testing has lagged behind what we now know about the subtle ways certain compounds can interfere with hormones, DNA repair, or organ formation.
And it isn’t only about pregnancy. The same exposures that affect conception can continue through lactation and early parenting, when mothers and babies are most vulnerable.
From convenience to concern
The beauty and personal care industry thrives on convenience and sensory appeal: soft hair, smooth skin, invisible sunscreen. Yet many of these benefits are powered by chemicals originally developed for industrial use.
Take phthalates, used to make plastics flexible and fragrances last longer. Or parabens, the preservatives that keep lotions shelf-stable. Both have been detected in amniotic fluid, cord blood, and breast milk. Some act as endocrine disruptors, mimicking or blocking natural hormones like estrogen and testosterone.
While a single exposure is unlikely to cause harm, the problem is cumulative and chronic. Modern life means constant, low-level exposure—from cosmetics, packaging, cleaning agents, and even clothing. The result is what researchers call a “body burden”: the total load of chemicals stored in our tissues.
Studies show that higher levels of certain phthalates and phenols are associated with reduced fertility, higher miscarriage risk, and, in some cases, developmental and metabolic disorders in children.
Yet most of these ingredients remain poorly regulated, especially in the United States, where cosmetic and household product oversight is minimal compared to Europe.
The pregnancy paradox
Pregnancy is both a time of heightened protection and heightened vulnerability. The placenta, once thought to be a perfect barrier, is now known to allow many substances—including heavy metals, flame retardants, and microplastics—to pass through.
The irony is painful: women are urged to take prenatal vitamins but rarely warned about what’s in their skin cream. Hospitals test for blood pressure and glucose but not for chemical exposures that may be equally consequential for long-term health.
Even postpartum, the risks don’t disappear. During breastfeeding, some fat-soluble compounds such as PFAS (the “forever chemicals” used in nonstick and waterproof products) can concentrate in milk. For most mothers, breastfeeding remains far more beneficial than risky—but that doesn’t excuse inaction from regulators or manufacturers.
And for those trying to conceive, exposure to certain retinoids, formaldehyde releasers, or endocrine-active UV filters can make it harder to achieve or sustain a pregnancy.
Why I built ChemCheck
As a perinatologist and ethicist, I’ve spent my career helping families navigate medical risks during pregnancy. But one of the hardest conversations to have is about what we don’t yet regulate.
That’s why I created OI ChemCheck, a custom ChatGPT prompt built specifically for Obstetric Intelligence readers.
Here’s how it works:
You can simply upload a clear photo of the label or either type or paste the ingredient list from any product—cosmetic, sunscreen, shampoo, or cleaning spray. ChemCheck will automatically read the image and scan for:
Top Chemicals of Concern (as defined by major safety databases such as the Environmental Working Group and ChemFORWARD)
Pregnancy-flagged chemicals, including known or suspected teratogens, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxins, and compounds with limited pregnancy safety data
It then generates a plain-language report identifying which ingredients may be problematic and why, from “potential developmental toxicity” to “endocrine activity” or “limited human data.”
No alarmism, no pseudoscience—just evidence-informed caution and transparency.
You can access it here:
👉 Use the OI ChemCheck prompt on ChatGPT
Once you open the link, you’ll see the Obstetric Intelligence ChemCheck screen. There you can:
Upload an image of the product label directly from your phone or computer, or
Type an ingredient list, or
Type in a specific ingredient
ChemCheck will then review it and produce a clear report in seconds, explaining which chemicals to watch for and why.
Why this matters
Chemical exposure is not destiny, but it is a modifiable risk factor—one of the few in obstetrics we can actually control outside the hospital.
Choosing safer products is a form of preventive care, as real as taking folic acid or monitoring blood pressure. For clinicians, it’s also an ethical issue: if we know certain exposures are harmful or under-researched, we have a duty to help patients make informed choices.
The ChemCheck project isn’t about fear; it’s about knowledge empowerment. It bridges a gap that regulatory agencies have left open for too long and gives both patients and professionals a practical tool to make safer, smarter decisions.
If AI can help us read a label more critically and protect even one pregnancy from unnecessary risk, that’s a good use of technology.
Reflection / Closing
The hidden chemistry of modern life will not vanish overnight. But awareness is the first step toward accountability. Each time you scan a product with ChemCheck, you’re not just protecting your own body—you’re voting for transparency, ethical manufacturing, and the right of every mother and baby to start life free of preventable harm.
What if the real measure of progress in women’s health isn’t just survival, but the purity of the environments we create for new life?
Disclaimer: ChemCheck is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not diagnose, treat, or replace consultation with your qualified healthcare provider. Always discuss any product or health concerns with your physician or obstetrician.