Mums & Bubs

It is well known that pregnant women have additional nutritional needs for their developing baby. The most publicised of course is the need for additional folate to decrease the chance of spinal birth defects. There are of course many other nutrients that are important to the growing baby and also for the young child once they are born. We have tried to highlight interesting points below that may not be so well known.

Vitamin D

• The infants of mums with low vitamin D levels during pregnancy have a higher risk of dental cavities.
• Research suggests, there is a link between vitamin D insufficiency and adverse health outcomes such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia in mothers-to-be and low birth weight in newborns.

 Magnesium

• Infertile men have much lower levels of magnesium.
• Magnesium in required in higher amounts during pregnancy.
• Magnesium is often used to reduce pregnancy-induced hypertension.
• Clinical trials have demonstrated that mother supplementing with magnesium have larger, healthier babies and lower rates of preeclampsia, premature labour, sudden infant death, and birth defects, including cerebral palsy.