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.

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

Consumption of caffeine increases risk of miscarriage

A US study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has found that 200mg of caffeine a day - approximately 3 cups of coffee - doubles the risk of miscarriage compared to women who avoid caffeinated products while pregnant. This is in line with other studies which have previously highlighted the risks of caffeine intake.

However, at present the current Food Standards Agency recommendation is an upper limit during pregnancy of 300mg - or four cups of coffee a day.

“As miscarriage is most likely to occur during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy”, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy, “I would advise giving up caffeine completely if you are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant. Fortunately, as I know from experience, many women go off the taste of caffeine, so giving up caffeine may not seem as hard as you think. However, as caffeine is present in so many foods and drink sources (see table below), if you have trouble giving up or cutting down on caffeinated products seeing a Nutritionist may help. This is particularly relevant if you have a history of miscarriage.”

According to the Foods Standards Agency, 300mg of caffeine is roughly equivalent to:
Four average cups or three average mugs of instant coffee
Three average cups of brewed coffee
Six average cups of tea
Eight cans of regular cola drinks
Four cans of so-called "energy" drinks
400g (eight standard 50g bars) of normal chocolate
Please note that caffeine content in a cup of tea or coffee varies by different brands and brewing methods

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.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7195500.stm

Balancing Work and Family: 100 Resources

Having recently had a baby myself, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialists in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy, it isn't always easy to know where to turn to get information about your rights and options. Consquently, when I was emailed the below link, I thought it might of interest to mums and mums to be.

http://www.businesscreditcards.com/bootstrapper/balancing-work-and-family-100-resources-for-pregnant-career-women

Infertility risks high among cancer patients

A new report by experts from the Royal Colleges of Physicians, Radiologists, and Obstetricians and Gynaecologists state that the NHS does not have a universal policy to maximise fertility among cancer sufferers.

The four main treatments for cancer — surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy — can all affect fertility and most doctors advise women not to become pregnant until at least two years after chemotherapy because of the likelihood of the cancer coming back.

What many people do not realise is that cancer in many instances can be avoided, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy. Incredibly, the World Cancer Research Fund has estimated that 30-40% of cancers could be prevented through correct dietary choices.

Making adjustments to your diet can therefore help your body to work properly and to ward off or reverse ill-health. This is especially important if there is a history of cancer in your family, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown.

Consequently, seeking professional dietary advice may help considerably to minimise your risk of getting cancer, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown.

To find out more, contact Melody Mackeown