Trimester Zero: The Preconception Health Craze

A growing culture around preconception health—dubbed “trimester zero”—has influencers and wellness experts urging would-be parents to optimize diet, toxins, and lab testing long before trying to conceive. The piece tracks how some claim to boost future fertility and fetal health through liver-rich diets, micronutrient testing, and detox regimens, while others caution that common medical basics (folic acid, avoiding smoking, controlling chronic conditions, vaccines) remain essential. It also notes the broader context: access to prenatal care is shrinking in some places, policy shifts complicate pregnant-care, and the claim that proper preconception habits can guarantee pregnancy or flawless pregnancies is contested by medical professionals.