Lifestyle choices during pregnancy

At all stages of pregnancy, the ability to make informed dietary and lifestyle choices can have a positive influence on the health and wellbeing of mother and child. Under normal circumstances, the developing foetus depends upon placental efficiency to absorb a rich supply of nutrients from the maternal bloodstream. Because of this close dependence, there are certain situations which can potentially disrupt the normal course of foetal development. For example, there are a number of maternal illnesses and infections which must be avoided or treated promptly to reduce the risk of developmental abnormalities. Because several of these conditions exhibit minimal symptoms, it is beneficial for most pregnant women to undertake a periodic health assessment with their primary caregiver. Depending on individual circumstances, these assessments may require detailed medical history, physical evaluation, and a selection of diagnostic measures. All women should be counselled on the importance of seeking appropriate medical advice, particularly those in a higher risk category for infectious illnesses like hepatitis, and HIV.

On account of elevated physical and nutrient requirements, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women are subject to various levels of dietary imbalance and deficiency. In most instances, a mild nutrient deficiency will drain the mother’s resources rather than interfere with the developing foetus. Specific nutrient deficiencies and imbalances may, however, become more serious at critical stages of foetal development. For example, insufficient reserves of folic acid can interfere with development of the spinal cord and nervous system during the first trimester. Depending on diet, age, and general health, some women are advised to take a folic acid supplement several months prior to conception and during the first trimester which encompasses the critical early stages of spinal cord development. Minerals like iron and calcium are required constantly during pregnancy. During periods of intense demand, there is a potential for reserves to become depleted to a level which may affect maternal health and in serious cases, foetal development.

Another situation which will affect foetal development is the introduction of toxins crossing the placental barrier. Expectant mothers are warned of the risks associated with smoking, alcohol, recreational drugs, and various forms of pharmaceutical medication. One of the poorly explained risk factors today, is the constant exposure to residual chemicals within the food chain. For the sake of better health and peace of mind, it is well worth considering options like organic produce which may assist in reducing the overall exposure to environmental toxins.

Dietary considerations during pregnancy must be focused on providing the nutrients required to promote optimum maternal health and to sustain the baby’s developmental progress. Under normal circumstances, the most effective means to ensure these outcomes is to create nutritious meals based on the key food groups. A well balanced diet should contain large quantities of organically grown fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly the leafy green and brightly coloured items like fresh beetroot, sweet potato, and tomatoes. Many fresh vegetables can be carefully washed and eaten raw in salads or juiced to provide the raw enzymes which provide an energy boost while facilitating internal cleansing and digestion. A similar effect is obtained from other ‘live’ foods such as sprouted beans and seeds.

Protein is required to build new life and to continually renew components which have become inefficient over time. The best sources of protein are seafood, lean organic meat, organic dairy products, soy products, and whole grains like barley, quinoa, and oats. Egg whites are an excellent source of protein, although these must be well cooked to eliminate the small but significant risk of salmonella.

Some sources recommend that fats and oils constitute around thirty percent of total calorie intake. This seems a little high, although the important point is to reduce the saturated animal fats and to increase the healthy varieties of monounsaturated oils. Obtain these from eating raw nuts, seeds, avocadoes and cold pressed vegetable oils. These beneficial oils are also obtained from many species of oceanic fish including sardines, mackerel, and cod.

Carbohydrates are required to provide energy on a daily basis. Choosing complex whole grains can help maintain normal blood sugar levels and bowel regularity.

It is better to avoid highly processed snack foods as these generally contain excessive amounts of salt and food additives. Too much salt can contribute to fluid retention and elevated blood pressure. Other substances to avoid are refined sugars, caffeine, non prescribed drugs or medications, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, soft cheeses, shellfish, processed meat products, and any foods which have not been freshly prepared or cooked at temperatures high enough to destroy bacteria.

Remember to drink at least twelve glasses of water each day. A plentiful supply of filtered drinking water should always be available.

In the absence of a specific deficiency, there may be no benefit from taking nutritional supplements. When required, a qualified naturopath or herbalist can usually prescribe natural substances like kelp or chlorophyll extracts in order to correct nutrient imbalances. Such options may not be suitable for every situation so it is vital to discuss these initially with the primary caregiver.

There are several lines of evidence which confirm the risks of foetal exposure to organophosphate pesticides. Residual traces of these highly toxic chemicals are found on many varieties of fruit and vegetables. They can also be detected in some conventionally raised meat and dairy items. The manufacture of agricultural pesticides is based on formulations which are frequently changed to disrupt insect resistance. At the present time there are approximately one thousand active ingredients registered for agricultural pesticide applications. Organophosphates are designed to inhibit the enzyme cholinesterase which modulates the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Following exposure, the insect’s nervous system is overstimulated by a rapid increase in acetylcholine. This results in uncoordinated motor behaviour, tremors, and convulsions, followed by death in most instances.

With the exception of chlorpyrifos and some older types of organophosphate, there is limited data concerning the effects of these chemicals on neurodevelopment of the human infant. In the absence of a robust model to describe the physiological effects of cumulative exposure in adults, there is much debate regarding potential effects in the developing foetus. It is widely understood that developmental neurological effects are likely to be expressed in terms of behaviour and that multiple regions of the brain may be involved (Colborn, 2006). Furthermore, behavioural deficits and other neurologic symptoms not apparent at the time of birth may emerge later in life. Young and colleagues (2005) were able to detect early changes in neurodevelopment among infants whose mothers were exposed to higher than average levels of the organophosphate pesticide, chlorpyrifos. Using the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale, they assessed three hundred and eighty infants between three and sixty two days of age and reported a significant association between increasing concentrations of maternal organophosphate metabolites and higher numbers of abnormal reflexes in the infants.

Careful analysis of chlorpyrifos toxicity on neurodevelopment has shifted some assumptions about the developmental effects of organophosphates. For example, it is now widely accepted that these toxins alter the development of multiple brain regions. This is related to the finding that foetal sensitivity to chlorpyrifos is linked to increased sensitivity for cholinesterase inhibition (Slotkin, 2004). In most instances, the developmental effects of a single agent like chlorpyrifos will be confounded by interaction with other organophosphate pesticides and industrial toxins such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Bowers and colleagues (2004) reported that relatively low doses of organophosphate and PCBs in combination resulted in more severe neurodevelopmental consequences compared to higher doses of each substance in isolation.

Despite the frequent claims that low levels of pesticide exposure are inevitable and harmless, competent health professionals should be aware of potentially serious effects during sensitive periods of neurodevelopment. Even a small decrease in cumulative exposure can provide a wider margin of protection. For this reason, any dietary or lifestyle measures which can reduce the exposure to toxic chemicals is highly advantageous and strongly recommended.