How can naturopathy for pregnancy influence the heath and wellbeing of you, your baby and generations to come? The health of both you and your partner before and during pregnancy can play a huge part in the wellbeing of your children.
The average age of women giving birth is now 31. Being pregnant older can mean an increased risk of complications such as gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. Recent research suggests that how nutritious the pregnancy environment can influence the risk of chronic disease later in life.
Malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy, can effect the baby’s birth weight and increase the risk of neural tube and congenital defects. Low intake of nutrients such as zinc, calcium, magnesium, selenium and vitamins A, B and C are associated with premature birth and low birth weight. Modern day mass production and transport of food can render us lacking nutrition, even when we eat reasonably well – but naturopathy for pregnancy can certainly help.
Multivitamin supplementation in pregnancy can provide extensive benefits to the mother and baby. For example a good quality multivitamin has been shown to lower the risk of developing pre-eclampsia and having a baby with low birth weight. Not to mention the prevention of neural tube defects.
As a Pregnancy Naturopath, it is a great opportunity to positively influence the health of the mother and baby, both short and long term, providing preventative health care at its best. Obviously the safety of the baby is paramount, therefore superior quality practitioner products are essential, as they are supported by research and prescribed by a qualified and registered practitioner.
The key nutrients that have been shown to have the greatest effects on a healthy pregnancy are;
Folic acid & Choline– for the prevention of congenital defects such as neural tube defects, improves female fertility and quality of the early embryo. Up to 50% of the population require the active form folinic acid due to a gene polymorphism. Choline promotes brain development particularly in the later stages of pregnancy and during breastfeeding.
B-Complex vitamins- B2, B6, B12 & folic acid help support the health of DNA. A deficiency of these nutrients can lead to high homocysteine levels in the blood. This is related to pre-eclampsia as well as poor foetal outcomes such as low birth weight and spontaneous abortion.
Vitamin D & Calcium- A vitamin D deficiency reduces female fertility and can increase the risk of pre-eclampsia by up to five times. Good amounts of calcium influences foetal growth and maternal blood pressure.
Iron- anaemia increases the risk of foetal growth problems and premature delivery and can improve the health of the mother during and after childbirth.
Iodine- essential for thyroid health and the production of thyroid hormones in both mother and baby.
Magnesium- plays a very important role in optimising health for both mother and baby. This mineral influences the development of high blood pressure and substantially reduces the risk of cerebral palsy, gross motor dysfunction and cognitive dysfunction in preterm babies. Magnesium also improves foetal growth. The severity and occurrence of leg cramps in pregnant woman was shown to be reduced with supplementation.
Zinc- A key nutrient in the fertility of both men and women, influences gene expression and significantly reduces preterm birth. Zinc status correlated with the severity of depression scores in women after the birth of their baby.
Diet and lifestyle factors also contribute to a healthy pregnancy and baby. Naturopathy for pregnancy and education about good quality whole foods as well as the avoidance of dietary and environmental toxins carries just as much importance as supplementation.
Being a Pregnancy Naturopath means supporting men and women in getting pregnant and optimising the health of the whole family during the pregnancy. Good preconception and pregnancy care has the power to prevent chronic disease long term, as well as to influence the health of generations to come.
Please call me on (03) 9380 8099 to book an appointment, or click here to read about the services I offer.
