B vitamins may help with excessive infant crying
Women who have adequate vitamin B12 levels during their pregnancy may have a calmer baby. Defining excessive infant crying as more than 3 hours of crying per day averaged over a week, a study published in the Early Human Development journal found that there may be a link between the mother’s pregnancy vitamin B12 levels.
Almost 3,000 pregnant women took part in the study in which researchers measured the levels of vitamin B12 in the blood. The researchers found that the women with lower vitamin B12 levels during their pregnancy had newborn babies who were much more prone to excessive crying.
The recommended dietary intake (RDI) for vitamin B12 in pregnancy is 2.6 µg/day. Vitamin B12 is found in red meat, dairy, eggs, and seafood.
Iron deficiency early in pregnancy may impact the baby’s brain
An animal study published in March 2011 suggests that iron deficiency early in pregnancy may have a profound and long-lasting effect on the brain development of the child, even if the lack of iron is not enough to cause severe anaemia.
It is estimated that 35-58% of all healthy women show some degree of iron deficiency. Iron deficient babies may develop more slowly and language and behavioral issues can occur in childhood.
The study suggested that it is early in the first trimester of pregnancy when the foetus is the most sensitive to low iron levels, indicating that good iron levels are essential before conception has even occurred to have the best outcome in the foetus. Iron deficiency in the third trimester did not seem to harm the developing brain as muscle.
It is important to get your iron levels checked before you plan on conceiving and make sure your preconception multivitamin has a good level of iron that is well absorbed.
The RDI of iron in pregnancy is 27 mg/day and the best food sources of iron are red meats, poultry, and fish.
Iodine for healthy brain development
Iodine supplementation is often recommended during pregnancy, but it is also important to ensure adequate intake of iodine before conception occurs to allow for proper early brain development in the foetus. Iodine is needed for the synthesis of maternal thyroid hormones which are relied on for foetal neurodevelopment very early in pregnancy.
A World Health Organization (WHO) review which researched the impact of iodine deficiency and brain development in the first half of pregnancy states “the birth of many children with learning disabilities may be prevented by advising women to take iodine supplements as soon as pregnancy starts, or earlier if possible, in order to ensure that their requirements for iodine are met.”
The RDI for iodine in pregnancy as recommended by the National Health and Medical Research council is 220 µg/day.
Reduction in nutrition can impair brain function of the foetus
Maternal nutrient restriction during pregnancy has been found to compromise foetal brain development and potentially impacts brain function throughout life. Previously we were under the impression that the mother will prioritise foetal nutrient supply at the expense of her own needs, however this concept no longer appears to be correct.
A recent study compared two groups of non-human primates (baboon) mothers where one group ate as much as they wanted during the first half of pregnancy, while the other group received 30% less. The results showed major impairment in foetal brain development in the group that received the dietary restriction.
Ensuring you are getting adequate nutrients for both you and your baby is extremely important during pregnancy, not only for brain development but for improving multiple outcomes for the baby’s health.
References available on request