Nutrition during pregnancy Latvia eng

Medication  during  pregnancy    

Medicines   –   prescription   medicines,   as   well   as   over-­‐the-­‐counter   products   and   food  

supplements  –  may  be  taken  only  under  strict  medical  supervision  during  pregnancy.    

Maternal  diet  for  the  prevention  of  allergies  in  the  child    

There  is  no  evidence  that  exclusion  of  specific  products  during  pregnancy  or  use  of  prebiotics  

and  probiotics  reduces  the  lifelong  risk  of  the  offspring  for  allergy.  Thus,  dietary  restrictions  for  

the   prevention   of   allergies   in   the   offspring   are   not   recommended,   as   they   may   result   in  

insufficient   intake   of   important   nutrients   with   food.   If   the   expectant   mother   is   allergic   to  

certain  foods,  she  should  continue  to  exclude  them.  

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Vegetarians.   If   the   expectant   mother   is   an   ovolactovegetarian   (i.e.   consumes   dairy   products  

and   eggs),   she   may   obtain   the   appropriate   nutrients   from   her   diet,   and   the   diet   might   be  

comprehensive,  if  she  chooses  her  food  carefully.  The  only  supplements  required  would  be  folic  

acid,  iodine  and  vitamin  D.  If  the  expectant  mother  does  not  eat  fish,  additional  w-­‐3  fatty  acid  

docosahexaenoic   acid   is   indicated.   Dairy   products,   eggs   and   legumes   are   sources   of   protein.  

Iron  may  be  derived  from  eggs,  legumes  and  cereals,  although  vegetarians  have  a  higher  risk  for  

iron  deficiency  and  require  iron  supplements  more  often  than  other  women.  Women  who  were  

on  a  vegetarian  diet  for  a  long  time  before  conception  are  at  increasing  risk  for  vitamin  B

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 and  

zinc  deficits.  Expectant  mothers  on  a  vegetarian  diet  should  request  individual  advice  from  a  

nutritionist,  and  additional  supplements  should  be  prescribed,  when  appropriate.  

Vegans.   Adherence   to   a   strict   vegan   diet,   which   involves   exclusively   plant   products,   poses   a  

significant  health  risk  to  the  mother  and  the  child,  especially  for  the  development  of  the  child’s  

nervous  system.  Frequently,  vegans  have  insufficient  intake  of  energy,  proteins,  long-­‐chain  w-­‐3  

fatty  acids,  calcium,  iron,  iodine,  zinc  and  vitamins  B

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 and  D.  A  vegan  diet  cannot  be  considered  

comprehensive  without  additional  food  supplements,  and  vegans  should  request  a  consultation  

with   a   dietician   or   a   qualified   nutritionist   in   order   to   understand   the   additional   formulations  

required  and  how  to  monitor  their  nutrition  throughout  their  pregnancy.