Maternal nutrition during and after pregnancy plays an important role in fetal and infant development. Expecting Moms During pregnancy, DHA – a long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid – supports optimal infant brain development, and is particularly important in the third trimester when significant brain growth occurs. Developing babies must obtain this vital nutrient through the…
Category: Pregnancy & Nursing
Brain Health Benefits of Breast Feeding
Major infant brain growth occurs during pregnancy and during the first two years of life, which makes it important for parents to feed their babies proper nutrition between birth and two years old. During this stage in their lives, babies have the greatest need for DHA, an omega-3 fat that is a major structural fat…
Ways for Expecting Moms to get their DHA
Maternal nutrition before, during and after pregnancy plays an important role in fetal and infant development, as well as in maternal well-being. However, most women do not get enough DHA through food. The primary source of DHA is fatty fish, a dietary choice that is not a staple of the typical Western diet. Experts, such…
Depressive Symptoms in Early Pregnancy
Some women develop depressive symptoms during or after childbirth, but it is unclear why some women do and others do not. A history of depression and difficult socioeconomic conditions increase the risk of developing depression, but other factors, including nutrition may contribute as well. Several studies have examined whether a woman’s omega-3 status is associated…
Building Beautiful Minds – The “Big 3” for Baby & Me
Let’s start at the beginning and look at some of the important building blocks for every woman’s diet during pregnancy and while breastfeeding to help support positive brain health of their babies. Folic acid is a B vitamin important for healthy cells. Diets with adequate folic acid may reduce a woman’s risk of having a…
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