UK abortion charity urges that ministers act to reduce avoidable birth defects

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) is urging the UK’s health ministers to implement recommendations to fortify flour with the vitamin folic acid to reduce cases of neural tube defects (NTDs) like spina bifida and anencephaly in pregnancy. There are an estimated 1,000 cases of these conditions diagnosed every year in the UK, not including miscarriages.

Mother’s diet linked to premature birth

Pregnant women who eat a “prudent” diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and who drink water have a significantly reduced risk of preterm delivery, suggests a study published on bmj.com.A “traditional” dietary pattern of boiled potatoes, fish and cooked vegetables was also linked to a significantly lower risk.

A woman’s attitude during pregnancy affects weight gain

Overweight or obese women with the mentality that they are “eating for two” are more likely to experience excessive weight gain while pregnant, according to researchers at Penn State College of Medicine.Cynthia Chuang, associate professor of medicine and public health sciences, studied the attitudes and habits of women who gained appropriate weight and those who exceeded guidelines.

Only one third of women take folic acid before pregnancy to prevent spina bifida

Research recently published from Queen Mary University of London reveals less than 1 in 3 women have taken folic acid supplements before pregnancy to prevent spina bifida and other birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord (neural tube defects).

National Birth Defects Prevention Month underscores need for higher choline intake

Recent research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN) found that during pregnancy, and particularly during the third trimester, large amounts of choline may be needed to support fetal development. Conclusions of the research revealed that current recommendations may be too low.

Muscle strength in children linked to vitamin D levels in pregnancy

A UK study of pregnant women that followed their babies into early childhood finds kids were likely to have stronger muscles if their mothers had higher levels of vitamin D during pregnancy.The study, from the Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit (MRC LEU) at the University of Southampton, is published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Vitamin D levels during pregnancy linked to offspring muscle strength

New research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism suggests that mothers who have a higher intake of vitamin D during pregnancy are more likely to have children with stronger muscles.Vitamin D is known to help regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the bloodstream, as well as help cells to communicate.

Eating peanuts in pregnancy lowers allergy risk for child

Allergic reactions to peanuts and tree nuts can range from mild to life-threatening. But new research suggests that pregnant women who are not allergic to the nuts/legumes and who eat more of them during pregnancy lower the risk of their child developing an allergy to the food.This is according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Caution to pregnant women on red meat diabetes link

Pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant can make use of the holiday season to adjust their diets and reduce the risk of gestational diabetes, according to researchers at the University of Adelaide’s Robinson Institute.

Lifestyle changes ‘could reduce risk’ of pregnancy complications

Researchers say they have identified a number of lifestyle factors that could be modified in order for a woman to have a healthy pregnancy. This is according to a study published in the BMJ.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are around 6 million pregnancies in the US every year.

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