Pregnancy is a unique time for your body, which must evolve to meet the needs of your baby. Growing a person is a demanding task, one that requires high quantities of essential nutrients to ensure the health of both mother and baby is optimally supported.
During pregnancy, the body will naturally prioritise the health of your wee one, meaning that mothers often end up nutrient depleted and exhausted!
To ensure your pregnancy gets off to the best start, we recommend our clinic clients begin nourishing their body with nutrients at least 3 months before conceiving (ideally long before ‘trying’.. But we know that’s not the case for everyone, which is okay!). This includes adding in extra folate and iodine to your health routine, both of which are essential for healthy brain development. Let’s explore:
Folate (Vitamin B9)
Folate is an under-cover nutrient that is incredibly important for DNA repair.
Healthy DNA is an important factor in the production of a healthy egg. Generally, DNA damage happens naturally, and our body does an amazing job of keeping up with the repair. However, the damage can sometimes get away on us. Folate or Vitamin B9 helps our body keep up, nourishing our DNA for optimal repair – which is obviously a huge part of a healthy pregnancy!
DNA is responsible for triggering the 80 genes science has so far identified… as well as being essential for neurotransmitters, clearance of hormones, histamines and inflammation. In addition, research shows that folate or vitamin B9 can be utilised to prevent neural tube defects – we need folate to ensure that there is healthy brain development in the baby. You can see why it’s something to take seriously!
As with any nutrients, it’s worth paying attention to the form in which you consume folate. Some forms of folate will have more impact than others – we recommend taking folate in a methylated form.
Iodine
Throughout pregnancy, women’s natural iodine demands increase – so topping up during preconception and pregnancy is a must! Iodine deficiency is common in New Zealand, so we’d recommend eating foods rich in iodine or supplementing to ensure your levels are optimal. In addition, Iodine also positively impacts babies brain development – so it’s worth ensuring that there is enough in your body to go around!
While folate and iodine are two well-known nutrients for supporting pregnancy, it’s important to remember that nutrients work best synergistically – meaning that they work best together.
Here’s a list of nutrients that you should also be considering when you’re preparing for your pregnancy journey:
B6 and Zinc
B6 and Zinc are cofactors, meaning that they work closely together. When one is low, the other is often low, so it helps to ensure both remain in ample supply. Studies have indicated that low levels of vitamin B6 have been linked to increased severity of morning sickness, which – as most women will agree – can be a daunting prospect for pregnancy.
B6 and Zinc will also support healthy progesterone levels. Progesterone is crucial as it helps make the womb a safe and supportive home for the baby – helping to hold the uterine lining in place for a fertilised egg to implant.
If – like most people – you’re struggling to source sufficient quantities of B6 and Zinc from your normal diet, BePure ProgestoRenew is the BePure nutritional support we’ve created to do just that.
K2
Vitamin K2 controls our ability to lay down bone tissue. Low levels of vitamin K2 can lead to issues for your baby down the track, as it may result in a smaller jaw, leading to crowded teeth and sinus issues. Investing in some additional vit K2 preconception is much cheaper than orthodontic work twelve years down the track!
For many people, naturally sourcing Vitamin K2 can be a difficult task, as fat soluble vitamins like K2 are increasingly hard to come by. Liver is a good source, but an easy alternative is BePure One, the only off-the-shelf multivitamin that contains vitamin K2.
Omega-3
Fatty acids such as EPA and DHA are incredibly helpful for nurturing both baby and mum throughout pregnancy. DHA particularly is essential for ensuring optimal foetal brain, eye, immune and nervous system development.
Taking omega-3 fatty acids during pre-conception is great, but remember that keeping levels sufficient during the entire pregnancy will have potentially huge impact. DHA levels will naturally decrease for the mother throughout pregnancy, a result of the body’s selective transfer to the foetus. The good news is, it’s easy to adjust intake to ensure that everyone is getting the essential fatty acids they need!
Probiotics
While technically not a nutrient, a healthy microbiome is crucial for a healthy pregnancy, so we couldn’t not mention probiotics!
Babies are born with a mostly sterile gut, and they culture their beneficial gut bacteria from what the receive from their mother when passing through the birth canal and from nursing in the months afterward. A high quality probiotic will help ensure that your baby receives a good dose of beneficial bacteria, giving them an optimal start in life.
As you can see, there are many factors to consider when planning a nutrient rich pregnancy! The body is incredibly complex, and it’s important to remember that nothing works in isolation – by enhancing your nutrient intake across the board, you’ll find that each individual nutrient will have a more powerful impact.
To ensure optimal health before and during pregnancy, BePure One is your baseline supplement – a high-quality, high-strength multivitamin that contains all the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants you need on a daily basis. It is packed with over 50 of the highest quality ingredients in a highly bioavailable form, so you can feel confident you’re giving your body the best support possible as it embarks on one of its most meaningful journeys.
However, As BePure One is not designed specifically for pregnancy we do recommend additional iodine and folate support. Speak to your midwife or doctor about this. And if you’re planning to grow your family down the track, keep an eye out for a new BePure product launching later this year!
