Last week, I discussed the necessity for a mother-to-be to keep fit and healthy in order to prevent nutrient depletion, which could make her too weak to complete her gestation period and produce a healthy and strong baby. In ancient cultures and until recently in some, buxom and robust young women were found more suitable for marriage, childbearing, and to work in the fields than thinner and more frail women. They were once recommended for marriage over their skinnier and more delicate counterparts. For reproduction, the fittest were the most desired for marriage and not the most beautiful.

I also wrote about the roles of both parents-to-be, which include the father’s proactive part and understanding during the entire process. Today as I promised last week, I shall go into details about nutrients suggested by Dr. Catherine Shanahan in order to keep mother healthy enough to perform her reproductive duties, thus helping make her pregnancies successful, childbirth incident-free, and making her milk sufficient for her infant.

Because of fetal demands of fast growth and mental and physical developments, a mother has to be fully stocked in a whole range of nutrients like iron (folic acid), calcium, selenium, magnesium, potassium, iodine, phosphorus, zinc, vitamins A, Bs, C, D (sunshine), E, and K and of course omega-3, DHA, and the other essential fatty acids needed for building the baby’s central nervous system and brain.

Without healthy fats in mother’s diet, the fetus will take from the mother’s brain its needs, resulting in mother’s emotional breakdowns (crying, postpartum blues, depression), forgetfulness, and poor concentration. According to Dr. Catherine Shanahan, mothers’ brain could actually shrink in certain areas such as the hippocampal and temporal lobes, which govern the emotions as well as the short-term memory.

Mother’s supplements of essential fatty acids (omega-3 fatty acids) from cod liver oil and salmon have been shown to produce “protective and lasting effects on the baby’s intelligence.” Shanahan recommends mothers-to-be to take the supplement to get the protection for herself and child. Essential fatty acids are available in purified, palatable and smell-free softgels in heath stores.

Studies have shown folic acid to prevent neural tube defects called spina bifida, a fatal deformity, Down syndrome, and miscarriages. Folic acid deficiency in fathers-to-be could also interfere with the genetic quality of sperms, possibly leading to Down syndrome. Without folic acid, the body will not be able make healthy DNA to produce a healthy fetus as well as red blood cells to have enough oxygen. The nutrient is found in leafy greens, cabbage family, avocados, beans, and others.

Studies found that prenatal vitamin D insufficiency resulted in higher risk of schizophrenia, diabetes, and skeletal diseases in newborns. Vitamin D3 is the most bioavailable type. It becomes even more effective if 25 percent of the body gets exposed to 15 to 20 minutes of daily sunlight.

Choline is another nutrient that is important to the brain of the fetus. Mothers’ deficiency in choline during pregnancy was associated with lifelong learning disabilities in their children. Unfortunately, the nutrient is not included in prenatal multivitamins prescribed to mothers-to-be. Choline is abundant in soybean, but do not exceed the consumption of soy products.

Shanahan advises the mother to nourish her body with adequate nutrients before conception, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and even later, especially if she wishes to start another baby. Her body should to be replenished with nutritious foods as well as the essential fatty acids (fatty fish, olive and coconut oils, avocados) and supplements prescribed by her doctor, otherwise child number two could miss on many of the advantages baby number one got.

If her diet is unbalanced or insufficient in soluble and insoluble fiber from fruits and vegetables, the mother should ask her doctor for probiotics to ease her digestive problems (nausea, acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea). Probiotics are the “good” intestinal bacteria, microflora, that protect our health and intestinal tract against pathogens, yeast infections, and diarrhea, which are a threat to the pregnancy. Healthy bacteria also help in nutrient synthesis and assimilation. They are endangered by the multiple uses of antibiotics, artificial sweeteners, drugs, and unhealthy eating. Yogurt rich in live cultures protects the intestinal “beneficial” bacteria.

Probiotics were shown in research to protect against vaginal infections (Candida, sexually transmitted diseases), bacteria, and elevated risk of preterm birth. Insist on them if you feel depleted of “good” bacteria. A good brand is important. Studies show that probiotics in the last trimester of the pregnancy could reduce the risk of the infant developing allergies (eczema, asthma).

According to Dr. Shanahan, even if mother’s nutrition is not optimal, there is a chance that the first baby may be born healthy, proportionate, symmetrical, and well. After a first pregnancy deficient in essential nutrients, mother’s body may become even more depleted and weak. Photographs show her spine to become curved, her lips thinner, her memory a little impaired, and her mental sharpness less acute in result of deficiencies and poor nutrition. She may even show anxiety and low moods diagnosed as postpartum depression.

Fetuses’ inherent genes make them behave like scavengers to survive, absorbing whatever they need from the mother’s body, even if it means depleting her reserves like a true parasite would, leaving her with an exhausted and weak constitution. Unless she nourishes herself with the appropriate nutrition, she will become weaker and weaker, not fit to produce a healthy second child. She would need to replenish her body with a nutrient rich diet and longterm comprehensive supplements.

A weak mother would be exposing her subsequent pregnancies to miscarriages or preterm deliveries and babies to significant health issues. Even if the fetus acts like a parasite, God does not intend to sacrifice the life of a mother in favor of her unborn. When the mother is too weak in her pregnancy, she may not be able to carry full-term. The other probability is that when the mother is weaker than she was in her first pregnancy, the second child will not be as fit or as attractive physically. That includes facial bone structure, trait development, and symmetry.

This is what happens to children in close succession (with short time span). They could have weaker constitutions (higher risk of disease); less attractive facial traits; lower intelligence quotient (IQ); and may have birth defects due to deficiencies. The first-born seems to reap all the benefits from a healthier and stronger mother.

Shanahan continues explaining that bone structure and skeletal and facial development are also controlled by a healthy genetic expression, which is influenced by sufficient amounts of vitamins, minerals, proteins, healthy essential fats, and other important nutrients. That is why the mother should be in top shape and should have a good break between pregnancies to replenish her body’s stock of nutrients, keeping in mind that breastfeeding takes away a great deal of her vital nutrients. To start a second pregnancy, a mother needs to replace what has been depleted with the first born in order to have another healthy baby.

Next week, I will talk more about what Shanahan has in her book. It is amazing how a healthy natural nutrition is important to the health of parents-to-be, pregnancy, fetuses, and breastfeeding.

References:

• Dr. Catherine Shanahan and Luke Shanahan, MD, Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food

• http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937803004952, Probiotics and preterm babies

• http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8337048/Fight-to-prevent-allergie... Fight to prevent allergies in the womb

• http://www.news-medical.net/news/2008/03/21/36528.aspx Folic acid improves a man’s chance of becoming a father

N.B.:

Individuals with medical conditions or on medication should consult their physicians when they decide to introduce anything new in their diet even if it is natural.

The previous Health Solutions articles are located at www. arabnews.com

—

Email: [email protected]