Womb Health is Planetary Health - the Ecology of Human Beginnings

I truly believe that the health of future generations is intimately tied to the health of our planet. From the air we breathe to the water we drink and the food we eat, everything that surrounds us during conception, pregnancy, and early childhood profoundly shapes human development. Toxins, environmental degradation, and climate instability don’t just threaten nature - they directly impact fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and fetal development, often with lasting effects that stretch across generations.

As I’ve deepened my work with prenatal education and advocacy, it has become clear to me that the prenatal stage is one of the most powerful windows we have for preventing disease, reducing inequality, and alleviating human suffering. This is why I believe that true health promotion must include access to clean water, nutrient-rich food, emotional care, and safe environments for all families - especially expectant mothers.

We cannot separate womb health from planetary health. The Earth’s ecosystems nourish us all, and protecting them is not only a moral duty, it’s a biological necessity. When we care for the soil, the seas, and the skies, we are also caring for the inner landscapes where human life begins.

Nature holds incredible wisdom - its cycles of birth, growth, decay, and renewal mirror our own biology. I believe that reconnecting with these natural rhythms helps us heal not only ourselves but also our communities. Modern life often disconnects us from our capacity to feel and flow. But if we allow ourselves to truly feel—physically, emotionally, energetically - we begin to metabolize our experiences, transforming even trauma into a source of renewal.

Technology should support biology, not override it. As we look toward the future, I envision innovation that respects the sacred intelligence of life, that amplifies our connection to nature rather than distancing us from it.

It’s time for healthcare systems, educators, policymakers, and communities to come together in true planetary stewardship. This means not only creating sustainable environments, but also ensuring that every pregnant woman is supported, every baby welcomed with care, and every family empowered to live in harmony with the Earth.

I often return to the work of Dr. David Barker, whose research on the fetal origins of adult disease reminds us that what happens in the womb doesn’t stay in the womb—it ripples through a person’s entire life.

We carry the future inside us. And we carry the Earth, too. Let us care for both with love, wisdom, and deep responsibility.

About the Author
Susana Lopes is the Secretary-General of Prenatal Alliance, an advocate for World Pregnancy Day – March 22, a Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Teacher, a Pilates Teacher, a Humanized Pregnancy and Birth Advocate, Speaker, and the author of “Yoga e Maternidade”. Her present work includes guiding women to effectively release stress and anxiety from their body and improve their overall health and connection with their baby.