Facts From Our Founder, Dame Andrea Leadsom

In our new series, Facts from Our Founder, Dame Andrea Leadsom wanted to share some facts about the 1001 Critical Days, beginning with Foetal Programming to celebrate World Pregnancy Day on the 22nd of March 2026.

Pregnancy is a time of extraordinary development, but it’s not only about physical growth. Did you know that babies are already adapting to the world before they are born?

1001 Critical Days - Foetal Programming

Through a process known as foetal programming, a baby’s development in the womb is influenced by the environment the mother is exposed to. For example, if mum is experiencing high levels of stress, her baby may be exposed to higher levels of cortisol, which can shape how they respond to stress later in life.

That’s why pregnancy matters so much, and why supporting mums during this time is so important.

Look out for our ‘Facts from Our Founder’ series on our social media platforms where we’ll be sharing simple, evidence-based insights to help more people understand the importance of the first 1,001 days.