This area I am very passionate about. Being nutritionally at your best prior to conception and during pregnancy and lactation is extremely beneficial to the mother and the child. Not forgetting about dad as well. Putting dad on a good vitamin and mineral supplement also ensures his nutritional levels are optimum for conception and good health.
Preconception
Mums Clinician Pregavit Capsules or Elevit
Dads Menevit or Clinicians Vitamin and Mineral Boost or Radiance Mens Multi
Pregnancy/Lactation
I recommend mums to take Clinicians Pregavit capsules 3 daily. Clinicians Pregavit has been formulated from research to give the expecting or lactating mother the required nutrients to maintain optimal health during pregnancy and lactation. I have been recommending this product since 1999 with great feedback as well as using it with my own pregnancies. Increasingly there is more evidence available about taking nutrients for the wellbeing of the newborn. For example
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Not all pregnancy vitamins on the market are equal. How do you know you are getting a good one? This always depends on the level of training and experience the sales person has had. Always ask questions to check the level of understanding and about the information that is being given to you. I have compared Clinician's Pregavit to others on the market and the level and variety of nutrients in Clinicians Pregavit is far superior to many others. The only exception is the level of folic acid is only 300 mcg. ( this is the maximum quantity a nutritional company can add) so I recommend for 3 months prior to conception and the first 3 months of pregnancy to take folic acid 800mcg once daily or if at risk of spina bifida 5 mg once daily.
I also recommend Nordic Naturals DHA during pregnancy and lactation. Once again enormous amounts of research are available regarding the benefits to mum and baby. For example
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DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid, and is an essential building block of brain and nerve tissue. DHA cannot be synthesized by the body, and therefore must be obtained from diet high in deep-sea cold water fish.
DHA, which constitutes approximately 40% of the brain, supports brain development during the last trimester of pregnancy when the unborn child's demand for neurological growth increases greatly. If added to the mother's diet, it can help prevent the depletion of the mother's store of DHA, and support the developing baby's essential fatty acid needs.
I recommend Nordic Naturals omega supplements because of the purity, freshness and manufacturing process. For more information http://www.nordicnaturals.com
Diet
Supplements are important for mother and baby, but not before addressing the diet. A good healthy balanced nutritional diet free from as many additives, colours, flavours, preservatives, pesticides, sugar, caffeine and alcohol etc. For those with a family history for dairy or gluten intolerance minimizing or eliminating dairy and gluten in your diet helps to prevent intolerance in children, which may present as reflux, eczema, ear infections, tonsillitis, dry skin, mucous production, sinusitis, constipation, diarrhoea or wind. It sounds quite exhausting but for some idea where to start. See the following links low stress diet or Five steps to good health
For advice on what medication or supplements that can be taken for different conditions while pregnant or breastfeeding, please contact us or talk to your midwife or doctor.
Morning sickness
Firstly I put mums on Clinicians Pregavit. In addition to supplementation, the following dietary changes are recommended:
″ Eat small, frequent meals.
″ Eat dry crackers, toast or cereal before getting out of bed or when
feeling queasy or nauseous. However, some individuals may do better by eliminating carbohydrates altogether until the 12th week.
″ Drink water between meals but not during meals. Wait at least 30 minutes after eating before drinking fluids.
″ When vomiting occurs, take small sips of liquid.
″ Eat foods that are easy to digest such as toast, bagels, crackers, cereal, pasta, rice and potatoes.
″ Avoid greasy or spiced foods.
″ Avoid strong food smells.
If nausea is still a problem other products used are.
- Blackmores Travel Calm Ginger (or add more ginger to the diet). Keep a ginger root in the freezer and grate into hot lemon drinks or into vegetable dishes.
- NaturoPharm Nausmed
- Sea Band
- Undergo Accupuncture
Leg Cramps or waking in the night and not getting back to sleep.
This is usually due to a lack of Magnesium. See magnesium deficiency symptoms. I recommend Radiance Mineralpower a calcium and magnesium supplement.
Antibiotics while pregnant
If you have to take antibiotics I strongly recommend you take an acidophilus supplement, INNERHEALTH PLUS CAPSULES or PRIMADOPHILUS REUTERI. It is vitally important that the intestines are repopulated quickly with the correct mix of "good" bacteria. Yoghurt doesn't work effectively because the body digests it as food and the bacteria numbers are too low. By repopulating the gut you are helping your immune system, gut function and helping to prevent thrush or candida in the mother as well as the baby.
Acidophilus in the third trimester
Studies have shown that by taking acidophilus in the last trimester you help to reduce the incidence or severity of eczema, asthma, and allergies.