Your Baby, Your Way

By Jennifer Margulis PhD
I cried when I read Your Baby, Your Way: Taking Charge of your Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Parenting Decisions for a Happier, Healthier Family. I wish it had been around when I was pregnant with my first son. Consider buying this book instead of or in addition to the traditional What to Expect When You're Expecting book.

Mulligan, Please?

This book made me wish that I could have a mulligan for having my sons. Perhaps my older son wouldn’t have gone into fetal distress during my labor with him after the doctor broke my water. Perhaps he wouldn’t have had meconium in his lungs and had an APGAR of 5/9.  Perhaps I wouldn’t have almost had an emergency C-section and then administered pitocin. Perhaps he wouldn’t have had so many of the health issues that I’ve healed him from, most notably Sensory Processing Disorder, and other problems like severe developmental delays.

Deep Education in This Book

When I was on the way to becoming a new parent, I was like most people out there, who assume that doctors and the healthcare system are looking out for us and have our best interests at heart. Jennifer (Dr. Margulis, PhD) shows us how this just isn’t so. She shows us how pharmaceutical companies and medical-insurance companies are not only shaping for the worse what our healthcare choices are but also how there is a revolving door between them and federal government that drives federal healthcare policy.

You and I are looked at as long-term profit centers by the healthcare industry. Food and prevention don’t make a lot of profit, so they’re ignored. I love Jennifer’s quote, “You won’t see a farmer going to a doctor’s office with free kale in the hopes of getting pregnant patients hooked”.

This book will give you the knowledge and the confidence to stand up to medical authority figures, whom we automatically assume know more about our baby’s well-being than we parents do. They don’t. You do. You are the parent. You spend 24 hours a day with that baby. You know him or her better than anyone. Educate yourself, and one of the ways to do so is by reading this book.

What’s in This Book

In this book, you’ll discover how many of the common practices in pregnancy, childbirth and infant care are driven, many times without safety studies, to keep you and your baby as a profit center.  You’ll learn what I believe is a fair and balanced approach to issues (I’ve spent a lot of time researching these issues myself) such as:

  • Ultrasound monitoring
  • Fetal monitoring during labor
  • The role of midwifery
  • Fetal induction and its role in emergency Caesarean sections
  • Caesarean sections and why the rate has risen to 33% from 5%
  • Cord clamping
  • Newborn bathing
  • Circumcision
  • Formula feeding vs. breastfeeding
  • Plastic diapers vs. cloth diapers vs. no diapers
  • Infant pottying

Many of these (with the exception of midwifery and infant pottying) are standard practice because they make it more convenient and efficient for the medical system (read:  higher profit), not because they lead to a healthier outcome for the mother and baby. If they do, then why does the United States rank so low when it comes to maternal and infant mortality?

Dr. Margulis also show us how many of these practices lead to long-term health problems, which creates a virtuous cycle for the heathcare industry, particularly pharmaceutical companies.

The book is an easy and enjoyable read because it’s peppered with real-world stories and interviews of both parents and doctors, yet it’s not a fluffy book. It’s loaded with facts and arguments that will help you understand both sides of the story so that you can make your own informed opinion. I highly recommend this book, especially to women who are considering getting pregnant or who are pregnant.

About Maria Rickert Hong CHHC

Maria Rickert Hong is a Co-Founder of, and the Education and Media Director for, Documenting Hope.

She is a former sell-side Wall Street equity research analyst who covered the oil services sector at Salomon Smith Barney and Lehman Brothers under Institutional Investor #1 ranked analysts.

Later, she covered the gaming, lodging & leisure sector at Jefferies & Co. and Calyon Securities. She quit working on Wall Street when her first son was born.

Prior to working on Wall Street, she was a marketing specialist for Halliburton in New Orleans, where she also received her MBA in Finance & Strategy from Tulane University.

She is the author of the bestselling book Almost Autism: Recovering Children from Sensory Processing Disorder and the co-author of Brain Under Attack: A Resource for Parents and Caregivers of Children with PANS, PANDAS, and Autoimmune Encephalitis. She is a co-author of Reversal of Autism Symptoms among Dizygotic Twins through a Personalized Lifestyle and Environmental Modification Approach: A Case Report and Review of the Literature, J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(6), 641.

Maria is also a Certified Holistic Health Counselor. Her work can be found on DocumentingHope.com, Healing.DocumentingHope.com, Conference.DocumentingHope.com and MariaRickertHong.com

Still Looking for Answers?

Visit the Documenting Hope Practitioner Directory to find a practitioner near you.

Join us inside our online membership community for parents, Healing Together, where you’ll find even more healing resources, expert guidance, and a community to support you every step of your child’s healing journey.

Sources & References

Alemany, S., et al. Prenatal and postnatal exposure to acetaminophen in relation to autism spectrum and attention-deficit and hyperactivity symptoms in childhood: Meta-analysis in six European population-based cohorts. Eur J Epidemiol. 2021 Oct;36(10):993-1004.

Ang, E.S.B.C., Jr., et al. Prenatal exposure to ultrasound waves impacts neuronal migration in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Aug 22;103(34):12903-10.

Ashwin, D., et al. The impact a Mediterranean Diet in the third trimester of pregnancy has on neonatal body fat percentage. J Dev Orig Health Dis. 2022 Aug;13(4):500-507.

Atladóttir, H.Ó., et al. Association of family history of autoimmune diseases and autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics. 2009 Aug;124(2):687-94.

Atladóttir, H.Ó., et al. Autism after infection, febrile episodes, and antibiotic use during pregnancy: an exploratory study. Pediatrics. 2012 Dec;130(6):e1447-54.

Avella-Garcia, C.B., et al. Acetaminophen use in pregnancy and neurodevelopment: attention function and autism spectrum symptoms. Int J Epidemiol. 2016 Dec 1;45(6):1987-1996.

Baker, B.H., et al. Association of Prenatal Acetaminophen Exposure Measured in Meconium With Risk of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Mediated by Frontoparietal Network Brain Connectivity. JAMA Pediatrics. 2020 Sep 28;e203080.

Bauer, A.Z., et al. Prenatal paracetamol exposure and child neurodevelopment: A review. Horm Behav. 2018 May:101:125-147.

Brandalize, A.P.C., et al. Evaluation of C677T and A1298C polymorphisms of the MTHFR gene as maternal risk factors for Down syndrome and congenital heart defects. Am J Med Genet. 2009 Oct;149A(10):2080-7.

Chaparro, C.M., et al. Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping on iron status in Mexican infants: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2006 Jun 17;367(9527):1997-2004.

Choudhury, P., et al. Microorganisms of maternal periodontitis cause adverse pregnancy outcomes in gestational diabetic individuals: a preliminary observational report. Quintessence Int. 2022 Oct 21;53(10):850-857.

Cobb, C.M., et al. The oral microbiome and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Int J Womens Health. 2017 Aug 8;9:551-559.

Curran, E.A., et al. Research review: Birth by caesarean section and development of autism spectrum disorder and attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2015 May;56(5):500-8.

Darling, A.L., et al. Association between maternal vitamin D status in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood: results from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Br J Nutr 2017 Jun;117(12):1682-1692.

Davis, J.A., et al. Can Positive Mindsets Be Protective Against Stress and Isolation Experienced during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Mixed Methods Approach to Understanding Emotional Health and Wellbeing Needs of Perinatal Women. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jun 29;18(13):6958.

Davis. J.A., et al. Perinatal Women's Perspectives of, and Engagement in, Digital Emotional Well-Being Training: Mixed Methods Study. J Med Internet Res. 2023 Oct 17:25:e46852.

Davis. J.A., et al. Time-out for well-being: A mixed methods evaluation of attitudes and likelihood to engage in different types of online emotional well-being programmes in the perinatal period. Womens Health (Lond). 2023 Jan-Dec:19:17455057231184507.

Divarka, N., et al. Effect of maternal prebiotic supplementation on human milk immunological composition: Insights from the SYMBA study.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2024 Sep;35(9):e14226.

D'Vaz, N., et al. The ORIGINS Project Biobank: A Collaborative Bio Resource for Investigating the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jul 4;20(13):6297.

Fezer, G.F., et al. Perinatal Features of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2017 Apr-Jun;35(2):130-135.

Finlay-Jones, A.J., et al. Comparing Web-Based Mindfulness With Loving-Kindness and Compassion Training for Promoting Well-Being in Pregnancy: Protocol for a Three-Arm Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2020 Oct 14;9(10):e19803.

Frisch, M., et al. Ritual circumcision and risk of autism spectrum disorder in 0- to 9-year-old boys: national cohort study in Denmark. J R Soc Med. 2015 Jul;108(7):266-79.

Gamez, C., et al. Lower Cord Blood IL-17 and IL-25, but Not Other Epithelial Cell-Derived Cytokines Are Associated with Atopic Dermatitis in Infancy. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2021;182(6):474-478.

Gardender, H., et al. Perinatal and neonatal risk factors for autism: a comprehensive meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2011 Aug;128(2):344-55.

Glasson, E.J., et al. Perinatal factors and the development of autism: a population study. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004 Jun;61(6):618-27.

González-Valenzuela, M.J., et al. Exposure to synthetic oxytocin during delivery and its effect on psychomotor development. Dev Psychobiol. 2015 Dec;57(8):908-20.

Guo, D., et al. Association of maternal diabetes with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring: A meta-analysis and review. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2020 Jul:165:108269.

Hamad, A.F., et al. Prenatal antibiotics exposure and the risk of autism spectrum disorders: A population-based cohort study. PLoS One. 2019 Aug 29;14(8):e0221921.

Hansen, J.B., et al. Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A and autistic- and ADHD-related symptoms in children aged 2 and5 years from the Odense Child Cohort. Environ Health. 2021 Mar 12;20(1):24.

Hantsoo, L., et al. Childhood adversity impact on gut microbiota and inflammatory response to stress during pregnancy. Brain Behav Immun. 2019 Jan:75:240-250.

Hertz-Picciotto, I., et al. Organophosphate exposures during pregnancy and child neurodevelopment: Recommendations for essential policy reforms. PLoS Med. 2018 Oct 24;15(10):e1002671.

Hertz-Picciotto, I., et al. Prenatal exposures to persistent and non-persistent organic compounds and effects on immune system development. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2008 Feb;102(2):146-54.

Hobbs, C.A., et al. Polymorphisms in Genes Involved in Folate Metabolism as Maternal Risk Factors for Down Syndrome. Am J Med Genet. 2000 Sep; 67(3): 623–630.

Hood, R., et al. "It helps and it doesn't help": maternal perspectives on how the use of smartphones and tablet computers influences parent-infant attachment. Ergonomics. 2024 Feb;67(2):148-167.

Hood, R., et al. The association of mobile touch screen device use with parent-child attachment: a systematic review. Ergonomics. 2021 Dec;64(12):1606-1622.

Hood, R., et al. 'There's good and bad': parent perspectives on the influence of mobile touch screen device use on prenatal attachment. Ergonomics. 2022 Dec;65(12):1593-1608.

Huang, R.C., et al. Feasibility of conducting an early pregnancy diet and lifestyle e-health intervention: the Pregnancy Lifestyle Activity Nutrition (PLAN) project. J Dev Orig Health Dis. 2020 Feb;11(1):58-70.

Hutton, E.K., et al. Late vs early clamping of the umbilical cord in full-term neonates: systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials. JAMA. 2007 Mar 21;297(11):1241-52.

Ibilola, O., et al. Environmental (Perinatal) risk factors of ADHD in a sibling control design study. Open Access Journal of Behavioural Science & Psychology. 2021 Feb 05;4(1).

Jois, R.S., et al. Do probiotics in pregnancy reduce the risk of group B streptococcal colonisation? J Paediatr Child Health. 2020 Sep;56(9):1468-1472.

Konkel, L. Phthalates and Autistic Traits: Exploring the Association between Prenatal Exposures and Child Behavior. Environ Health Perspec. 2020 Oct;128(10):104001.

Korpela, K., et al. Maternal Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Cesarean-Born Infants Rapidly Restores Normal Gut Microbial Development: A Proof-of-Concept Study. Cell, 2020.

Kurth, L., et al. Perinatal Pitocin as an early ADHD biomarker: neurodevelopmental risk? J Atten Disord. 2011 Jul;15(5):423-31.

Langley, E.A., et al. High maternal choline consumption during pregnancy and nursing alleviates deficits in social interaction and improves anxiety-like behaviors in the BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J mouse model of autism. Behav Brain Res. 2015 Feb 1;278:210-20.

Lavie, M., et al. Paleolithic diet during pregnancy-A potential beneficial effect on metabolic indices and birth weight. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2019 Nov;242:7-11.

Li, D.K., et al. A population-based prospective cohort study of personal exposure to magnetic fields during pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage. Epidemiology. 2002 Jan;13(1):9-20.

Lu, X., et al. Azithromycin exposure during pregnancy disturbs the fetal development and its characteristic of multi-organ toxicity. Life Sci. 2023 Sep 15:329:121985.

Lueth, A.J. Allostatic Load and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes. Obstet Gynecol. 2022 Dec 1;140(6):974-982.

Lyall, K., et al. Prenatal Serum Concentrations of Brominated Flame Retardants and Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability in the Early Markers of Autism Study: A Population-Based Case-Control Study in California. Environ Health Perspect. 2017 Aug 30;125(8):087023.

Magalhães, J.Z., et al. Prenatal exposure to fipronil disturbs maternal aggressive behavior in rats. Neurotoxicol Teratol. Nov-Dec 2015;52(Pt A):11-6.

Malin, A.J., et al. Maternal Urinary Fluoride and Child Neurobehavior at Age 36 Months. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 May 1;7(5):e2411987.

Martínez-Frías, M.L., et al. Maternal polymorphisms 677C-T and 1298A-C of MTHFR, and 66A-G MTRR genes: is there any relationship between polymorphisms of the folate pathway, maternal homocysteine levels, and the risk for having a child with Down syndrome? Am J Med Genet. 2006 May 1;140(9):987-97.

Mercer, J.S., et al. The Effects of Delayed Cord Clamping on 12-Month Brain Myelin Content and Neurodevelopment: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Perinatol. 2022 Jan;39(1):37-44.

Muanda, F.T., et al. Use of antibiotics during pregnancy and the risk of major congenital malformations: a population based cohort study. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2017 Nov;83(11):2557-2571.

Modabbernia, A., et al. Apgar score and risk of autism. Eur J Epidemiol. 2018 Oct 5.

Mulder, E.J.H., et al. Prenatal maternal stress: effects on pregnancy and the (unborn) child. Early Hum Dev. 2002 Dec;70(1-2):3-14.

Nguyen, L.D.., et al. Women's holistic self-care behaviors during pregnancy and associations with psychological well-being: implications for maternal care facilities. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022 Aug 9;22(1):631.

Palmer, D.J., et al. Maternal peanut and egg consumption during breastfeeding randomized pilot trial. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2022 Sep;33(9):e13845.

Parkin, K.,, et al. Risk Factors for Gut Dysbiosis in Early Life. Microorganisms. 2021 Sep 30;9(10):2066.

Peltier, M.R., et al. Maternal Hypothyroidism Increases the Risk of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in the Offspring. Am J Perinat. 2020 Oct 21.

Premji, S.S., et al. Prenatal allostatic load and preterm birth: A systematic review. Front Psychol. 2022 Oct 4:13:1004073.

Qiu, C., et al. Association Between Epidural Analgesia During Labor and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Offspring. JAMA Pediatr. 2020 Oct 12.

Rauh, V.A., et al. Impact of prenatal chlorpyrifos exposure on neurodevelopment in the first 3 years of life among inner-city children. Pediatrics. 2006;118;e1845-1859.

Rifas-Shiman, S.L., et al. Associations of prenatal or infant exposure to acetaminophen or ibuprofen with mid-childhood executive function and behaviour. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2020 May;34(3):287-298.

Rosman, N.P., et al. Association of Prenatal Ultrasonography and Autism Spectrum Disorder. JAMA Pediatr. 2018 Apr 1;172(4):336-344.

Rowley, C.E., et al. Altered dietary behaviour during pregnancy impacts systemic metabolic phenotypes. Front Nutr. 2023 Dec 4:10:1230480.

Silva, D.T., et al. Introducing the ORIGINS project: a community-based interventional birth cohort. Rev Environ Health. 2020 Sep 25;35(3):281-293.

Silvestrin, R.B., et al. Animal model of autism induced by prenatal exposure to valproate: altered glutamate metabolism in the hippocampus. BrainRes. 1495 (2013) 52–60.

Sucksdorff, M., et al. Maternal Vitamin D Levels and the Risk of Offspring Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019 Dec 18.

Taddio, A., et al. Effect of neonatal circumcision on pain responses during vaccination in boys. Lancet. 1995 Feb 4;345(8945):291-2.

Taige, N.M., et al. Gestational Age at Term, Delivery Circumstance, and Their Association with Childhood Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2016 Mar;30(2):171-80.

Tanneeru, S., et al. Evaluation of Microflora (Viral and Bacterial) in Subgingival and Placental Samples of Pregnant Women with Preeclampsia with and without Periodontal Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent. 2020 Mar 10;10(2):171-176.

Tollånes, M.C., et al. Cesarean section and risk of severe childhood asthma: a population-based cohort study. J Pediatr. 2008 Jul;153(1):112-6.

Torres, G., et al. Perspectives of Pitocin administration on behavioral outcomes in the pediatric population: recent insights and future implications. Heliyon. 2020 May 29;6(5):e04047.

Vuillermot, S., et al. Vitamin D treatment during pregnancy prevents autism-related phenotypes in a mouse model of maternal immune activation. Mol Autism. 2017 Mar 7;8:9.

Wilcox, J.C., et al. Evaluating Engagement in a Digital and Dietetic Intervention Promoting Healthy Weight Gain in Pregnancy: Mixed Methods Study. J Med Internet Res. 2020 Jun 26;22(6):e17845.

Wang, A., et al. Association of Prenatal Exposure to Organophosphate, Pyrethroid, and Neonicotinoid Insecticides with Child Neurodevelopment at 2 Years of Age: A Prospective Cohort Study. Environ Health Perspect. 2023 Oct;131(10):107011.

Wang, S.S., et al. Polymorphisms in genes involved in folate metabolism as maternal risk factors for Down syndrome in China*. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2008 Feb; 9(2): 93–99.

Watai,, K., et al. Epidemiological association between multiple chemical sensitivity and birth by caesarean section: a nationwide case-control study. Environ Health. 2018 Dec 14;17(1):89.

Willfors, C., et al. Medical history of discordant twins and environmental etiologies of autism. Transl Psychiatry. 2017 Jan; 7(1): e1014.

Williams, E.L., et al. Potential teratogenic effects of ultrasound on corticogenesis: implications for autism. Med Hypotheses. 2010 Jul;75(1):53-8.

Winter, C., et al. Dopamine and serotonin levels following prenatal viral infection in mouse—implications for psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 2008 Oct;18(10):712-6.

Woodbury, M.L., et al. Examining the relationship of acetaminophen use during pregnancy with early language development in children. Pediatr Res. 2023 Dec 11.

Xiang, A.H., et al. Maternal Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 Diabetes, and Type 2 Diabetes During Pregnancy and Risk of ADHD in Offspring. Diabetes Care. 2018 Dec;41(12):2502-2508.

Zaigham, M., et al. Prelabour caesarean section and neurodevelopmental outcome at 4 and 12 months of age: an observational study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2020 (20)564.

Zengeler, K.E., et al. SSRI treatment modifies the effects of maternal inflammation on in utero physiology and offspring neurobiology. Brain Behav Immun. 2023 Feb:108:80-97.

Zhang, L., et al. Association of Maternal Short Sleep Duration With Neurodevelopmental Delay in Offspring: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2024 Sep 26:dgae569.