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.

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.

Poor maternal and infant nutrition can cause long-term health consequences regardless of later nutritional intervention

A landmark series of research papers on maternal and child undernutrition published in the leading international medical journal The Lancet early this month shows that children will suffer irreversible damage into their adult life if proper nutrition interventions are not delivered before the age of 24 months, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

The below summaries a talk given by Professor Caroline Fall, Medical Research Council Epidemiology Resource Centre, University of Southampton, UK.

The following factors can lead to irreversible damage to a child’s health and economic prosperity, even if nutrition is improved at a later stage:
§ An undernourished mother (during pregnancy);
§ Low birth weight baby (classified as less than 5.5lb); and a
§ Undernourished infant

The consequences of the above lead to:
§ Reduced adult height, which in term reduces muscle mass (and therefore reduces the possibility of doing as much physical work or possibly sport)
§ Poorer school achievement by a year or more
- attributed to failure for brain development in very early life and undernutrition
§ Lower school attainment can then lead to lower income in later life and a lower quality of life
§ Poorer life-long health (excluding cancer, but including heart disease, diabetes, lung function, bone health and cognitive function and health)

“All of this has a knock on effect on the next generation with low-birth weight mothers more likely to give birth to low birth weight children”, which perpetuates the cycle say Professor Caroline Fall.

While malnutrition is most widespread in developing countries, according to National Report on Follow-up to the World Summit for Children, 2000, 8% of all children born in the UK have a low birth rate. This equates to around 50,000 live births each year. Consequently, early nutritional intervention in the UK will also have a profound effect on health and quality of life.

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.

Sources:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk
http://www.thelancet.com/online/focus/undernutrition
http://www.sunherald.com/447/story/304842.html