This Coursera course from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich highlights the latest research findings on nutrition-related aspects of pregnancy, advising pregnant women how to eat from conception to birth.

Whether you're a first-time mother or a seasoned pro, finding out that you're newly pregnant can bring with it a heavy torrent of anxiety.

Beneath the usual concerns like which crib to get and what your baby's first words will be lies a more basic question: Is your body a safe incubator for your new VIP?

From conception to birth, a woman's health, diet, and exercise will play a major role in her child's health.

The food you eat in particular has the ability to determine and influence everything from long-term cognitive function and achievements to behavior and education, immune function, bone health, and more.

Berthold Koletzko is a professor of pediatrics at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.

In this course, he covers the latest scientific research findings for what a woman's diet and lifestyle should look like if she's pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant.

With the help of cutting edge findings from metabolomic and epigenetic research, we can learn more about the high stakes of early development and explore how maternal nutrition before and during pregnancy can have long-term implications for a child's health.