Bmc Med
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Enhancing pregnancy health is known to improve the mother's and offspring's life-long well-being. The maternal environment, encompassing genetic factors, impacts of social determinants, the nutritional/metabolic milieu, and infections and inflammation, have immediate consequences for the in utero development of the fetus and long-term programming into childhood and adulthood. ⋯ Advances in the ability to leverage 'omics across different platforms (genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, microbiome, lipidome), large high-dimensional population databases, and unique cohorts are generating exciting new insights: The first articles in this collection highlight the role of placental biomarkers of preterm birth, metabolic influences on fetal and childhood growth, and the impact of common pre-existing maternal disorders, obesity and smoking on pregnancy outcomes, and the child's health. As the collection grows, we look forward to seeing the connections emerge across maternal, fetal, and childhood outcomes that will foster new insights and preventative strategies for women.