Post Natal Vitamin and Mineral deficiency
Pharmacy shelves are stocked with several brands of prenatal vitamins, but few brands are marketed specifically to new mothers. Supplementing with vitamins after giving birth, however, can help you recover from the physical and physiological effects of pregnancy and can even benefit the health of your newborn if you are breast-feeding. Here are the main ones you need to ensure you are getting enough of!
B vitamins – important for the normal functioning of the immune system and regulation of a mother’s hormonal activity.
Beta Carotene – helps protect, safely, against Vitamin A deficiency and cell mutation. Supports normal cell differentiation, normal function of the immune system as well as the normal metabolism of Iron. Passed on through mother’s milk.
Biotin – essential for metabolising most macronutrients as well as for the normal function of the nervous system. The concentration of Biotin in breast milk is 15 times higher than in the mother’s blood, which suggests that Biotin may be very important for a baby’s growth and development.
Calcium – needed for the development of your baby’s nervous system and strong, healthy bones and teeth.
Choline – an essential nutrient required by the body to make important compounds necessary for healthy cell membranes.
Folate – contributes to normal cell division. Supplementation can be valuable as good supplies are hard to get from food alone.
Iodine – an essential micro-nutrient in the human diet, most particularly as a component of thyroid hormones, which play a vital role inthe regulation of metabolic processes such as growth and energy expenditure.
Iron – needed by the mother to help build up haeomoglobin in the blood, especially if there has been considerable blood loss. Also helps to support normal cognitive function and to supply oxygen to the muscles.
Magnesium – essential for energy production, for proper nerve function and for every major metabolic reaction. Few enzymes (the protein molecules which carry the DNA’s instructions in the body) can work without it.
Selenium – an important antioxidant. Helps to protect DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage. Also important for the normal functioning of the immune and thyroid systems.
Vitamin C – helps wounds to heal by manufacturing collagen, connective tissue and blood vessels. Supports the immune system, helps to fight infection and increases the body’s absorption of Iron. Particularly valuable if you are breast feeding.
Vitamin D – important to help maintain a healthy inflammatory response and the normal functioning of the immune system.
Vitamin E – Essential for metabolism and the development of the nervous system.
Vitamin K – controls blood clotting. Your child cannot manufacture Vitamin K within his or her own gut yet and relies on breast milk for his or her supply.
Zinc – helps to support the immune system and normal DNA synthesis. Levels of copper (which is antagonistic to Zinc) rise during pregnancy, reaching a peak just after the birth. The placenta is an exceedingly rich form of Zinc, which is why most animals eat the placenta after giving birth. New mums are often Zinc deficient and it can cause post natal depression, poor healing and skin and hair issues.
Recommended product – StrongStart MVM® is a one-a-day multi-nutrient formula that has been developed by Lamberts® Technical Department for women who are either hoping to conceive, already pregnant or breast-feeding.
Official data on the diets of young women in the UK shows that for sections of this population their intake of some vitamins and minerals may fall below the RNI’s. Most surprising is the high proportion of these women (9 out of 10) whose diets are providing less than the RDA for iron. Several B vitamins are also at risk of falling below the RNI’s, (which are arguably a long way short of the optimum levels). The only official recognition of these possible shortfalls is the focus by the DoH on folic acid.
StrongStart MVM® provides the DoH recommended 400µg of Folic Acid, alongside optimal levels of the other 23 vitamins and minerals required at this important time.
- High but safe levels of B vitamins
- Recommended level of Folic Acid
- Excellent trace minerals including iron, chromium, zinc and selenium
- Double the RDA for vitamin D
Please email enquiries@carolebaker.co.uk to order and collect at your next class/post.
If you are seriously depleted in specific vitamins or minerals listed then an individual supplement may be required – contact me for details
POST NATAL MUMS & BABIES YOGA CLASS
THE APEX, BURY ST EDMUNDS – WEDNESDAYS 11.15 – 12.15