The most important way to make sure you and your baby have all the nutrients you need during pregnancy is to eat a well balanced diet. The second most important thing is to be aware of which vitamins and mineral are required in supplement form to top up what you can get in the diet. It is essential – as taking the right amounts of supplements has an impact on babies health, including in the case of folic acid – helping prevent of neural tube defects and disability.
In this video Anita provides an overview of some of the important nutrients to consider supplementing above and beyond what is consumed in the diet.
Please note I have used the terms folate and folic acid interchangeably in this video. They are slightly different forms of the same nutrient, which are then converted in the body to the active form. In the supplements described the active ingredient is folic acid. A small minority of people can have trouble processing folic acid due to MTHFR gene mutations. Please talk to your doctor if you have concerns. Folic acid supplementation is recommended in Pregnancy by the World Health Organisation, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Dept of Health Pregnancy Care Guidelines. It is generally recommend folic acid is supplemented 1-3 months prior and 3 months after conception. The recommended doses discussed for folic acid and iodine relate to their supplemented form, -additional amounts of these nutrients are required by eating a well balanced diet.
The information about the individual supplements discussed was correct for the version on the product available in Australia at the time the video was made, however the ingredients in the supplements can change at any time so please check the information panels when you purchase.
As discussed in the video always discuss supplementation with your individual doctor as what is right for each individual can vary, depending on their medical history, there blood test results, their diet intake, and even where they live.
Find out more about healthy nutrition in pregnancy in ‘Growing Baby Bean A Complete Guide to Pregnancy Nutrition’
shop now https://pregnancyandpaediatriccollective.com.au/shop-2
No Comments