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Nutrition for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
At no other time in your life has good nutrition been so important. You need good nutritional support to keep you healthy during pregnancy and to prepare you for childbirth and breastfeeding later on. Also, the developing baby depends on you for nutrients to help him/her grow. This is especially true for brain development, which begins in the womb.

Why is DHA intake during pregnancy important for my developing baby
More than half of the human brain is composed of fat.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a type of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, is the predominant fatty acid in the brain, making it a very important nutrient required for proper growth and development of the brain.

It may seem unbelievable, but the developing baby's brain size actually increases by approximately 260% during the third trimester of pregnancy.1 Studies show that large amounts of DHA accumulate in the brain from approximately 25 weeks gestation until 2 years of age.2 Although your body can make DHA from alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is a type of essential fatty acid (EFA), a developing baby cannot.

That's why it is crucial for you to receive a continuous direct supply of DHA throughout pregnancy, to pass on to your baby. This is especially critical during the third trimester, when much of the baby's neurological, visual and nervous system development occurs.

How does my baby get DHA from me?
DHA is transferred from your body to the baby across the placenta. In fact, it is transferred the fastest compared with other fatty acids.3

How do I ensure that I have enough DHA supply?
Consuming foods rich in or supplemented with DHA can significantly increase your DHA supply. Although your body can make its own DHA from ALA obtained through your diet, recent studies show that intake of ALA may not maintain or increase your DHA supply to cope with the increased demand.4,5 This is due to the poor conversion of ALA to DHA.

Because of this, it is recommended to supplement your diet with foods rich in DHA. When you receive a continuous direct supply of DHA, your baby is more likely to start with better DHA levels at birth.6,7

Other important nutrients in pregnancy
Other essential nutrients needed to support your pregnancy and your developing baby's growth and development include:

Folic acid
• Plays a role in the formation of red blood cells.
• Helps to maintain the growth and development of the baby.
• Is essential for growth and division of cells.

Calcium
• To build your baby's bones and teeth.
• To keep your own bones strong - your body gives your baby the calcium that is available and takes calcium from your bones to meet your own needs. Hence, you need to replenish the lost calcium.

Iron
• To make haemoglobin, a component of blood that carries oxygen to the cells of the body – for you and across the placenta for your baby.
• To help in making the extra blood you and your baby need.

Giving your baby the best – Breastfeeding
Breast milk is the best food you can give your baby. That's why healthy eating continues to be important during breastfeeding, so that your baby receives from you all the nutrition needed for a healthy growth and development.

Note that a continuous supply of DHA to your baby remains important in the first year of life because the brain develops rapidly during this period of time. Clinical studies have shown that optimal DHA supply via breastfeeding during this period is associated with improvements in a baby's brain8 and eye9 development.

Do I need SA (Sialic acid) during pregnancy?
Supplementary SA in pregnancy or during breastfeeding is not necessary because your body can make all the SA needed by your baby in the womb. Furthermore, the SA in the diet probably might not be efficiently absorbed or is not utilised for your baby or for breast milk production.

References
i) Dobbing J, Sands J. Arch Dis Chil 1973;48(10):757-767.
ii) Martinez M. J Pediatr 1992;120(4 Pt 2):S129-138.
ii) Haggarty P, et al. Placenta 1997;18(8):635-642.
iv) Francois CA, et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;77(1):226-233.
v) Brenna JT. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2002;5(2):127-132.
vi) van Houwelingen AC, et al. Br J Nutr 1995;74(5):723-731.
vii) Al MD, et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71(1 Suppl):285S-291S.
viii) Birch EE, et al. Dev Med Child Neurol 2000;42(3):174-181
ix) Birch EE, et al. Pediatr Res 1998;44(2):201-209
x) Simopoulos AP, et al. J Am Coll Nutr 1999;18(5):487-489.

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The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Please seek advice from your doctor for any questions you may have regarding pregnancy and breastfeeding. The views and opinion expressed by the author of the article above do not represent the views and opinion of Mead Johnson Nutrition (M) Sdn Bhd or CMPMedica and should not be relied on as such. Mead Johnson Nutrition (M) Sdn Bhd and CMPMedica Medical Education shall not be liable for any loss or damage howsoever arising, including from reliance on any information provided in this article. Editorial development by CMPMedica Medical Education. 2005 CMPMedica. All rights reserved. No parts of this article may be reproduced by any process in any language without the written permission of the publisher.

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