By André Comrie
So you’re pregnant. What an exciting time for a family!
And what a responsible time it is for the mother-to-be because you are the sole source of nutrition for the growing foetus, and his/her development actually depends entirely on you for the full 9 months, and beyond, as your breast feed your new-born baby.
But, while it is a responsibility, it should certainly not be overwhelming. Supplying the needs of your growing baby simply takes a little bit of care and intention.
Firstly, the nutrient needs during this time are greater than when you are not pregnant or nursing.
Apart from the fact that your energy intake probably needs to be higher, it is also necessary that you have the essential nutrients ‘in stock’ so to speak. The growing foetus, and a baby that is still fully dependent on breast milk for all its nutritional needs, can actually be regarded as being parasitic since it will take what it requires from the mom. So either the mom makes sure that her daily intake is adequate to cater for the greater demand, or nutrients will be taken from maternal reserves e.g. calcium from her bones and teeth, and omega 3 oils from her brain. In fact, one suggestion for the development of post-partum depression is that the mother’s brain has been depleted of too much Omega 3 and is no longer able to function properly.
If too few nutrients are available for the growing foetus and infant certain consequences are possible. Here are some examples:
- Increased risk of infant mortality and miscarriage
- Low birth weight and failure to thrive
- Increased incidence of congenital abnormalities, for example folic acid deficiency and neural tube defects such as spina bifida
- Impaired development of eyesight, the brain and nervous tissue if Omega 3 oils are too low
- Increased susceptibility to chronic disease later in life.
The gift of breastfeeding
Breastfeeding provides many benefits for both the new-born baby and the mother. That’s hardly surprising, given that that is how the ‘system’ has been designed!
Here are some of these benefits:
- Mother’s milk is designed to be the perfect food for the infant. Interestingly, as the baby grows the volume and consistency of the mom’s milk, and the nutrients in it, change to cater for the changing demands of the baby.
Initially (Phase 1, for about 2-5 days after birth) the milk is called colostrum. It is thick, yellowish in colour, highly nutritious, and filled with antibodies to protect your baby from infections. It also stimulates and supports the maturation of the baby’s digestive system.
Phase 2, called the Transitional Phase follows (from about day 2-5 after birth for about 2 weeks). The milk changes colour to a bluish-white, and your breasts will become fuller as the growing baby will need more nutrients. Frequent nursing will ensure that your baby’s needs are being met – you will produce more milk as the demand grows.
Phase 3 is when mature milk is produced. It starts at about 10-15 days after birth.
Again, it provides all the nutrients that your baby needs at that stage of life. Interestingly, the amount of fat present in this mature milk changes during the feed. There is a real interplay between the demands of the baby and supply from the mom!
2. Breastfeeding has been shown to have many long-term benefits for your baby:
A lowered risk of developing respiratory infections and asthma
Fewer ear infections
Reduced incidence of eczema
Fewer infections with tummy bugs
A reduced risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS or cot death)
A reduced risk of developing Type 1 diabetes
A reduced risk of childhood obesity
A reduced risk of leukaemia
3. The baby has a level of immunity from the start.
Before the immune system of the infant becomes fully functional, breast milk supplies the antibodies that the baby might need. In addition, if new ‘bugs’ are in circulation, the mom makes appropriate antibodies for herself, and passes then directly on to her child.
And, of course, for the full development of a competent immune system you are still the source of the necessary nutritional building blocks!
4. The baby can be fed anywhere and at any time as the food is always ready, at the correct temperature! Travelling is very much easier when all the paraphernalia for preparing formula is not needed. And breastfeeding is a great source of comfort for your baby, especially when the routine has been disrupted. Add to that the fact that it’s free as well as convenient, and it becomes the go-to answer for feeding your new-born.
5. Moms who have breast fed are at a reduced risk for various serious illnesses.
These include breast cancer, type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
So it’s clear that the nutritional status of the mom is of critical importance from pre-conception, through pregnancy and while breast feeding.
And there’s more!
There is such a thing as post-weaning depression, and we need to take steps to prevent it from happening. Symptoms include increased irritability, weepiness, fatigue and disrupted sleeping habits, appetite changes, difficulty in concentrating and an inability to enjoy usual pleasures.
The probable cause is changing hormones. (So what’s new?) Oxytocin, the bonding and feel good hormone, and prolactin, the calming hormone, start dropping and oestrogen starts to dominate again, causing depression and irritability in some moms.
Again, if moms are well-nourished, with all the necessary nutrients readily available on an ongoing basis, the chances of developing this debilitating condition are greatly reduced.
What advice would I consider of critical importance?
Eating a wholesome, well-balanced diet if essential, and first prize. But there’s a catch!
We like to believe that we are eating a wholesome, well-balanced diet, that will ensure all the dietary needs that we and our growing baby need. But research continues to show that this is pretty well impossible in this modern day, for all sorts of reasons. And in my opinion, any possible deficiency at this crucial time is one too many. Far better is to do what is necessary to plug any potential nutritional gaps. They might have life-long effects into the future.
So what do I recommend?
- A well-formulated, balanced Multimineral-Multivitamin Complex from whole food sources.
- A good source of uncontaminated Omega 3 oils from fish.
- A protein shake that ensures that all the amino acids are present in the correct ratios for maximum absorption.
- A calcium-magnesium supplement that contains Vitamin D to improve absorption.
- An effective probiotic to maximize the health of the gut – starting before the birth of your baby, especially if you have been on oral contraceptives! You will be the source of the microbes that will populate the gut of your infant, so they really do need to be the right kind!
If you’d like to know what supplements I personally use and recommend (and why!) I’d love to have a chat. I have no doubt that there are good supplements but there are many others that really are hardly worth taking.
André Comrie
Cell: 084 506 3643
