A new chapter of life begins the moment a woman learns she is pregnant. During her extraordinary journey towards motherhood she waits impatiently for the moment when her baby can finally snuggle up to her and in the interim she just wishes him to be as healthy as possible.
Starting in the womb, a mother's influence on her child's growth and overall health is unquestionable. One of the most important aspects of the growth and development of the child is ‘brain development’. While you have to wait to see if your baby will have your eyes or nose you can ensure beforehand that your child gets the benefits of right nutrients like DHA and choline required for optimal brain development.
It has been proved scientifically that a mother’s nutrition during a bracket of 1000 days (time from the start of a mother’s pregnancy until a child is two years old) is directly linked to the brain development of the child. If a mother’s love and care can work miracles for the baby, optimal nutrition during those 1000 days can go one better!
If the nutritional requirement of mother remains unmet during this period it may cause a lifelong impact on the health of child. Mothers should ensure optimal intake of essential nutrients like DHA, Choline, Protein, Folate, Calcium, Vitamin C, B2, B6 and B12, iron and carbohydrates which can be met by a healthy diet along with a good nutritional supplement. A good supplement like Mother’s Horlicks can make a difference as it helps fill the gaps in the diet.
Give your baby benefits of DHA along with your DNA………
The impact of poor maternal nutrition during first 1000 days is lasting and irreversible, with effects reaching beyond physical growth and development to affect cognition and academic achievement. It is believed that 70% of the brain development of the child happens during pregnancy.
“For optimal brain development of the baby, a mother should eat a healthy diet along with good supplements which is rich in vital nutrients likes DHA and Choline that promote overall brain development of the baby. DHA is brain nutrition. It's to our brains as calcium is to our bones. Infact, optimal brain development and function of infants depends on it”, says Dr. Mallika Samuel, Gynecologists & Obstetricians, Chennai.
Studies have shown that DHA supplementation in infants, increases information processing speed and improves visual recognition, memory and visual attention.
Optimal maternal nutrition is the key………
There is a growing evidence that daily dietary intake of nutrients like Choline, DHA and folate in maternal diet during the significant period of 1000 days is absolutely necessary for optimal cognitive and overall mental development of child.
Choline helps modulate the basic signaling processes within the cells and is a structural element in membranes, vital during pregnancy for brain development. It is recognized as an essential nutrient by the US IOM (Institute of Medicine), with higher dietary requirements during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Nutrients like Choline, DHA, protein and folate are provided primarily through the maternal diet, but sometimes just dairy dietary intake is not enough therefore a good nutritional supplement like Mother’s Horlicks really helps in plugging the gap of vital nutrients in maternal diet.
“What a mother eats during her pregnancy as well as during the breastfeeding phase has a profound effect on the intellect, memory and overall mental development of her baby in the long run. Therefore it is very important for a mother to eat a healthy and balanced diet along with good nutritional supplement to suffice her with nutrients that contributes in cognitive and neurological development of the baby”, says Dr. Padamvathi Vema, Consultant Obst & Gynaecologist, Yashoda Super Speciality Hospital, Hyderabad.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding are critical phases in a mother’s life that greatly influence the child’s brain and overall development. During this phase she might have lots of concerns and questions about her own and about her child’s health. For any kind of diet, nutritional and health related information she can visit http://indianwomenshealth.com which is a complete health guide portal for women.
The experience of becoming a mother cannot be expressed in words but felt in emotions. The meaning of joy for a mother is the assurance that her child’s health and well-being being taken care of. She puts in constant efforts to give her child a healthy life. One of the most important aspects of overall health of a child is brain development. By ensuring your optimal nutritional intake you are also ensuring your child’s healthy physical and mental development. A simple step now can result in a brighter future ahead!