Why pregnancy massage is good for you and your baby

Massage stimulates the acupressure points situated along the meridian lines of the body, say UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

Massage also has the following benefits:

v It relaxes: The parasympathetic nervous system is activated and the endorphin ‘love’ hormones are released. This brings the body back into balance by reducing the metabolic rate, blood pressure, anxiety and improving circulation and sleep.
v It promotes growth and development: Stimulation of the tactile nerve endings in the skin provides information about the outside world and helps the brain organise its circuitry. During massage muscular co-ordination is encouraged and growth hormones flowing from the pituitary gland increase
v It stimulates the skin and boosts the immune system: Massage helps to keep the pores open for the skin to eliminate toxins and the therapeutic effects of oils are absorbed through the skin. It also assists the flow of the lymphatic system that transports immune cells through the body and removes waste products.
v It promotes optimum muscular and joint activity: As muscle contracts, metabolic waste is ‘milked’ into the venous and lymphatic systems ready for excretion. Together with gentle joint movements it can also help maintain joint mobility.
v It reduces pain perception: Massage stimulates the brain’s release of endorphin ‘feel-good’ hormones that also act as pain suppressors, and occupies sensory pathways to the brain, ‘gating’ out some of the pain signals. It also lowers levels of stress hormones. This is why having a massage when you have gone into labour (if practical!) can really help.
v It aids digestion: Relaxation through massage can help digestion (stress is known to disrupt it). Abdominal massage can aid the elimination process in the large and small intestines. It also influences intestinal functions by stimulating the vagus nerve to facilitate food absorption. Abdominal pain, constipation and indigestion can be reduced by regular massage of the abdomen and the back.

If you are pregnant and are thinking about having a massage, make sure the massage therapist is qualified or experienced in pregnancy massage, say UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown. To find out more, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2.

Think twice about IVF – having twins or multiple births can seriously affect the health of your babies

A quarter of IVF babies are twins or triplets and multiple births are nearly 20 times higher as a result of assisted conception than when it happens spontaneously, say UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

However babies who share a womb with siblings (be it twins or triplets) are far more likely to be born prematurely - and this brings with it a series of risks.

Twins are seven times more likely to die in the first few weeks of life than their singleton counterparts, and are six times more likely to develop cerebral palsy.

Care for babies born with disability or who develop them later on can pose a serious financial and emotional strain on parents, not to mention the cost of IVF treatment which can cost between £4,000-£8,000 per cycle.

Improving you nutritional status can help to improve your chances of conception and there is research to prove it, say UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown. Just one example is a study at the University of Surrey consisting of several hundred would-be parents with a history of fertility problems. They were put on tailor-made holistic pre-conceptual care programmes focussing principally on diet, vitamin and mineral supplementation and avoidance of environmental toxins. A stunning 81% of those who took part went on to produce healthy babies. This make the holistic approach 2 ½ times more effective than IVF!

To find out more, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your fertility and chances of becoming pregnant naturally, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

Smoking - reduce the risk to your baby by quitting within the first 5 months of your pregnancy

Recent research suggests that if mothers to be quit smoking within the first five months of their pregnancy then the damage done to their babies may not be as severe compared to the negative health affects among babies whose mothers have smoked throughout their pregnancy, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

The study does not suggest for one minute that smoking is safe, but that most damage is done to babies in the last 4 months where growth of the baby (and brain development) is most evident.

If you smoke throughout your pregnancy says, UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown:

¨ There is a higher risk of miscarriage, complications during pregnancy and complications during labour in women, and
¨ A baby is on average 4lb lighter. As low-weight babies have a higher risk of death (such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS) and disease in childhood, this is extremely serious.

There are many ways nutritional therapy can help support you while giving up smoking, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown. As smoking can upset your blood sugar balance, one of the first things I look at, are ways to regulate your blood sugar. Many foods can also upset your blood sugar levels, as well as other stimulants such as coffee, tea, alcohol and chocolate. There are also a number of supplements that may help reduce your craving for nicotine.

To find out more, please contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT). Melody offers pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2.

Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy Linked To Lower IQ For Child

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, children born to mothers with untreated hypothyroidism during pregnancy score lower on IQ tests than children of healthy mothers, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

Children born from mothers with hypothyroidism also scored lower on tests measuring attention, language, reading and visual-motor performance.

The thyroid gland is found in the neck and produces a hormone, thyroxine, instrumental to many bodily functions. Hypothyroidism is a condition where the gland does not produce enough of this hormone. Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism include feeling tired or without energy; coarse, brittle hair; thick, coarse skin; and a lowering of the metabolic rate (which means you put weight on more easily than you might otherwise do).

Hypothyrodism can also contribute to infertility and it is estimated that about 3% of women of child bearing age may suffer from this condition.

The condition can be corrected by medication and / or supported through nutritional intervention and there are some simple ways of assessing whether your thyroid is not functioning at is optimum level, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

Now I’m pregnant why am I sleeping so badly?

One of the reasons for fatigue and sleep problems during pregnancy are changing hormone levels, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy. For example, rising progesterone levels may partly explain excessive daytime sleepiness, especially in the first trimester.

However, according to the National Sleep Foundation, several sleep disorders can be caused or made worse by pregnancy. In a study of over 600 pregnant women, 26% reported symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS), a condition characterized by unpleasant feelings in the legs that worsen at night and that are relieved by movement.

The exact cause of RLS is unknown. However, evidence suggests that it is related to an imbalance of a brain chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is a naturally occurring substance which affects movement. In the evening, dopamine levels fall, and this may explain why the symptoms of RLS are often worse in the evening and at night.

Another cause of RLS is a lack of iron which is essential for the production of dopamine. Other nutrients are also involved in neurotransmitter regulation such as B6, B12 and folic acid.

Pregnant women are also at risk for developing sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. This is particularly true of women who are overweight when they become pregnant. Sleep apnea may also be associated with complications during pregnancy such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, or low birth weight.

Consequently, it is important to ensure that you are eating well in order to ensure you are consuming enough nutrients to sleep well, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

How much weight should I put on during my pregnancy?

You may be worried about gaining weight during pregnancy, or you may have started the pregnancy with more weight than you would have liked says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy..

However, under no circumstances should you diet while you are pregnant as you may deprive yourself and your baby of important nutrients, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown. Further, your body may start to detoxify (losing toxins stored in fat throughout your body) and these toxins may pass through your baby before being excreted.

If you eat a healthy, nutritious diet you will not put on any more weight than is necessary – so avoid the temptation to ‘pig-out’ as it will be harder to lose weight once your baby is born. As a rule of thumb, a healthy weight gain during pregnancy is considered to be no more than 33lb (15kg) and also not less than 11lb (5kg). Women who are underweight prior to pregnancy should gain a little more, and overweight women, a little less.

Women who do not gain enough weight have an increased risk for delivering babies with low birth weight (less than 2500 gm, or 5.52 pounds).

And babies who are underweight are at risk for physical and psychological childhood disorders, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown:
· They are more likely to experience asthma, respiratory tract infections, and ear infections.
· Babies who are born weighing less than 1000 gm (2.2 lbs), are at greater risk for cerebral palsy (a neurological abnormality).
· They are more likely to score low on intelligence tests and are more likely to have delayed development.

Conversely though, gaining too much weight can also be a problem. It can make pregnancy an unpleasant experience, causing
· Backache;
· Leg pain;
· Varicose veins; and
· Fatigue.

It may also lead to hypertension and diabetes. Excess weight may also be difficult to lose after delivery.

Excessive weight gain may also cause problems for the baby. Technically, an overweight baby is one who weighs more than 4500 gm, or 9.9 lbs. Large babies make vaginal deliveries more difficult, increasing the risk for cesarean section. Overweight babies may have an increased risk for health problems later in life, such as
· Obesity;
· Adult rheumatoid arthritis; and
· Diabetes.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

IVF may pass on genetic reasons for infertility

According to Professor Jens Peter Ellekilde Bonde, a professor of occupational medicine at Aarhus University in Denmark, and Professor Jørn Olsen, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California, countries using IVF such as Britain is facing an infertility timebomb because the increasing use of IVF means that couples with inherited fertility problems are able to have children and pass the condition on to the next generation.

Around one per cent of all births in Britain are the result of IVF or donor insemination, which means that around 11,000 babies are born annually after fertility treatment, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy. Each cycle of IVF costs between £4,000 and £8,000 and success rates are almost 30 per cent for women under the age of 35.

However, there are many other non-genetic reasons why you may not be able to conceive – such as anovulation (irregular or lack of ovulation) or poor sperm quality, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown. Furthermore, there any many nutritional steps you can take to improve your chances of conception and much research to prove it. Just one example is a study at the University of Surrey consisting of several hundred would-be parents with a history of fertility problems. They were put on tailor-made holistic pre-conceptual care programmes focussing principally on diet, vitamin and mineral supplementation and avoidance of environmental toxins. A stunning 81% of those who took part went on to produce healthy babies. This make the holistic approach 2 ½ times more effective than IVF!

To find out more, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2.

Lack of adequate ovulation may be responsible for up to 40% of women with infertility

Ovulation occurs on a regular basis in women that menstruate at intervals between twenty-three and thirty-four days, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

Any menstrual cycle length below or above this range is frequently associated with anovulation (i.e lack of ovulation). There are various conditions that can result in anovulation in women including polycystic ovarian disease (PCOS), advanced reproductive age, hypo or hyperthyroidism, elevated levels of the hormone prolactin production, physical and emotional stress, the use of certain medications, in particular medications associated with an increase in Prolactin production and neurotransmitter alteration.

Altering your diet can help with anovulation in many cases by balancing hormone levels, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, and by reducing internal stressors on the body. For example, stress can contribute to high prolactin levels and certain foods or drinks can increase stress such as caffeinated products – coffee, tea, chocolate – eating unrefined carbohydrates such as white rice and bread and insufficient fruit and vegetables (which is very low according to the Foods Standards agency with the vast majority of us not meeting the basic 5 a day principle).

To find out more, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2.

Obstetric Cholestasis may be helped with nutritional intervention

Obstetric cholestasis is an uncommon complication of pregnancy and is thought to affect 1% of all pregnant women. It is a condition which causes a build up of bile acids in the bloodstream and consequently lower levels of bile acids in the gut. The main symptom is persistent itch in the later third of pregnancy, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

The main complications appear to be a lack of vitamin K, which is essential for the blood clotting mechanism to work (thereby increasing the risk of hemorrhaging) and potentially a reduction in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins (such as vitamin D). There is also some controversy over whether the risk of still births is increased as a result of this condition.

The most common medical intervention is to give a drug which promotes liver function, as well as frequent ante-natal check-ups to ensure the foetus is not in any distress.

As there are many foods which can support liver function, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown and supplements such as digestive enzymes which can be taken to help breakdown fats in your diet, one option would be to seek nutritional advice to optimise your liver function and support digestion during your pregnancy.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

Why might maternal stress affect your unborn baby?

The answer says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy is the communication of the blood of the mother and your baby via the umbilical cord.

A baby gets both the good (e.g. nutrients and oxygen) and the bad from the mother’s blood. The bad components of the blood can include alcohol, nicotine, illicit drugs, prescription drugs, and stress chemicals, such as cortisol and noradrenaline.

Animal and human studies appear to indicate that stress leads to depression. In other words, chronic stress in the mother's womb (in utero) or early deprivation (separation from the mother by putting a baby into another room and leaving them to cry) can predispose a person to developing clinical depression in later life. Furthermore, stress hormones can actually decrease brain connections and even the number of brain cells in crucial areas, such as the limbic system, which are in part responsible for emotion, behaviour and long-term memory. This loss of brain connections and cells can then lead to further maladaptive (inadequate adjustment) responses to stress. In other words, the stress response is inappropriate and a person may not learn as easily to cope with stressors (which are normal and are part and parcel of growing up) and successfully adapt to them.

Making the correct food choices can also reduce the amount of stress you and your baby will experience says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, as it provides you with the correct nutrients to deal with stress more effectively. For example, many people become more irritable and feel low or depressed as a result of having a blood sugar imbalance. Further, an estimated 1 in 10 mothers experience some form of post-natal depression and how you feel directly impacts on how your baby may feel. This can be helped or possibly avoided by making the best dietary choices for you. This is especially important when you are about to have a baby. I know from experience that sleep deprivation is a huge stressor!

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

Vegan diet poses greater risk of birth defects

Research published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology has indicated that sufficient B12 in addition to folic acid is needed in your diet in order to prevent spina bifida says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy. Researcher discovered that mothers with the lowest levels of B12 tripled the risk of spina bifida in their babies.

Vitamin B12 is necessary for the synthesis of red blood cells, the maintenance of the nervous system, and growth and development in children. Deficiency can cause anaemia, Vitamin B12 neuropathy, involving the degeneration of nerve fibres and irreversible neurological damage, can also occur.

This research is especially important for vegans and to a lesser extent vegetarians as they are particularly at risk of a B12 deficiency, as it is exclusively synthesised by bacteria and is found primarily in meat, eggs and dairy products.

According to the Vegan Society, the present consensus is that any B12 present in plant foods is likely to be unavailable to humans and so these foods should not be relied upon as safe sources.

Consequently, I would recommend that anyone following a vegan diet includes foods fortified with vitamin B12, such as breafast cereals and taking a supplement with B12 suitabable for vegetarians and vegans, says Nutritionist Melody Mackeown.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

Taking a vitamin supplement can significantly reduce your chances of having a premature baby

More evidence has come to light regarding the importance of ensuring your diet has sufficient foods containing B vitamins before and during your pregnancy says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

Research has shown that if you consume sufficient folic acid for a year before becoming pregnant it can cut your risk of having a premature baby. This is important as being born too early is the most common reason for mortality in babies. UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown always recommends a supplement containing 400mcg (micrograms) of folic acid daily and health care professionals have long recommended it to mums because it can reduce the risk of birth defects.

As many women do not know they are pregnant for some weeks it is essential that folic acid is taken all the time and especially if you know that you are trying to have a baby.

Folic acid is in most pre-natal and multi-vitamins. It can also be found in foods like fortified cereal, leafy green vegetables and orange juice. While folic acid is widely accepted by health experts worldwide, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, there are a number of other nutrients that would hugely benefit both mums and babies, especially where there is a risk of allergies (such as eczema, asthma and hayfever) in families. Furthermore, nutrients like folic acid work better if taken with other members of the B vitamin family.

Consequently, seeking pre-conceptual care advice may help considerably to avoid having a premature baby, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown.