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- Nutritional Tips for Pregnancy
27th
October, 2009
Good nutrition before, during and after pregnancy is vital to
ensure the health of the mother and the best possible development of the baby.
Folic Acid, neural tube defects and
pregnancy
The neural tube
is the embryo's precursor to the central nervous system, which comprises the
brain and spinal cord. A neural tube
defect will occur if there is an interference with the closure of the
neural tube, which occurs around the 28th day after fertilization. The most
common neural tube defect is Spina bifida; incomplete formation of the spine leaves a gap
or split in the spinal column, resulting in damage which may cause mobility
difficulties, bladder and bowel problems and, in severe cases, paralysis.
The Scottish Spina Bifida Association
has expressed concern that the number of babies being born with a neural tube
defect is growing; 15 pregnancies in
Taking folic acid supplements is the only
known way to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Research has demonstrated
60% to 100% reductions in cases of neural tube defects when women consume folic
acid supplements in addition to a varied diet preconception (about one month
before and one month after conception).
Current advice is that if you are pregnant or thinking of having a
baby you should take a daily 400µg folic acid supplement from the time you stop
using contraception until the 12th week of pregnancy.
Iron
Iron is needed as a result of the increase in the volume of blood
in the mother’s body. The fetus also stores enough
iron to last through the first few months of life. A supplement of 15mg of
elemental iron is suggested.
Calcium
The foetus’s growing skeleton demands 300mg of calcium each day.
The
Probiotics
Taking probiotics during during pregnancy and administering them directly to infants
in their first six months of life may reduce the risk of atopic eczema by up to
50%; this is because exposure to bacteria postnatally
influences the development of the immune system.