Chlamydia Common in Pregnant Women

Almost 1 in 10 pregnant women (9.4%) studied by Australian investigators had Chlamydia, according to a report in the March issue of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. This increased to nearly 1 in 7 (13.5%) among women under 20.

Chlamydia, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy, can lead to complication during pregnancy, leading to risk of premature labour, for example. If undiagnosed, it can put the newborn at risk for conjunctivitis and pneumonia. It is also thought that it can lead to miscarriage.

Testing is simple and can be treated by one course of antibiotics, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown. However, antibiotics also destroy good as well as bad bacteria. As it is extremely important to maintain a healthy digestive system throughout pregnancy and to support the immune system, I would advise a course of probiotics if antibiotics are taken during your pregnancy. Furthermore, research has shown that prebiotics taken during pregnancy can lower the risk of babies developing allergies, 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.

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.