3 Key Nutrients for the Mother

The quality of nutrition a mother consumes is important for herself during pregnancy and while the child grows up. A mother that is healthy models healthy examples for her child, while she remains strong to support her child through their education, life lessons, and grow into healthy adults. Support with healthy fats, important minerals, and vitamins from foods and maternal milk options (eg. Similac MUM) and avoiding some vices is key.^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

What top nutrients a mother need

These nutrients are essential for controlling weight, bone health, and gut health to provide maximum comfort and reduce risk of developing gestational diabetes.

Healthy Fats: Watch out for Saturated or Trans fats, often found in deep fried foods, fast foods, or any highly processed packaged foods. Healthy fats that come from plants, nuts, and fatty fish can improve nutrient absorption. Healthy fats are omega fatty acids and a well-known one is called DHA or Docosahexaenoic acid. This fatty acid is key to the production and transportation of hormones that keep mood stable.^{1, 2}

Calcium: Pregnancy requires a lot of energy, and if a mother does not get enough calcium from food, it will drain the reserves meant for her bones, potentially causing future bone issues. Calcium is also important for circulatory, muscular, and nervous systems for their efficient functionality.¹

Fiber: Fiber is a natural bulking agent in food to keep a person more satiated. It absorbs water in the gut and helps things move along to ease any constipation issues. Whole grains (like whole-wheat bread, whole-grain cereals, and brown rice) and fruits, vegetables, and legumes (beans, split peas, and lentils) are good sources of fiber.¹

Iodine: is a key nutrient in thyroid function, which regulates hormones that control core body functions like metabolism and heart rate. Commonly consumed from iodized salt, iodine can be naturally found in dairy, eggs, and seafood.¹

Protein: classic nutrient for supporting every other cell (muscles and organs) in the body for functionality. It will help a mother’s body repair and maintain vital tissues. Avoid pregnancy unspecific protein shakes and instead focus on consuming more lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, nuts and nut butters, eggs, and tofu.¹

What to avoid and what to do specifically during pregnancy

Avoid Caffeinated Items: Excessive amounts or even as low as 3 cups a day (≙300 milligrams of caffeine) cause irritability, poor sleeping patterns, fussiness, and restlessness. Caffeine is also found in sodas, energy drinks, strong tea, and chocolate.³

Calorie Counting: If you were overweight before, the added weight during pregnancy can put stress on your joints, stress on your heart, cause obstructive sleep apnea, and gestational diabetes (a type of diabetes some mothers get during pregnancy and puts them at risk of developing the standard diabetes after).⁴ Calculated based on height and weight, if they tell you BMI (Body Mass Index) is 25.0 to 29.9 or higher, you’re overweight. Dieting without direction is not encouraged as most mothers will restrict themselves too much and miss out on important nutrients. The best way to control weight is a regime of exercises and set meal plans as recommended by medical advice.⁴

The quality of nutrition a mother consumes is important for the mother as she is responsible for supporting the health of her child too. But when keeping healthy with food gets a little though or it alone is not enough, maternal nutrition milks can help. For example, Similac Mum is scientifically formulated to support the nutritional needs for pregnant and breastfeeding mums without causing excessive weight gain.⁸ The scientific combination of Vitamin D & scFOS helps to support calcium absorption. scFOS , a prebiotic fiber, helps to support bowel regularity. It also contains 27 essential vitamins & minerals.

For samples of Similac MUM, please visit Similac Myanmar to sign up.^{5, 6}