Approximately one in ten babies are born 'pre-term', defined as before thirty-seven weeks gestation.
Being born prematurely is a leading cause of infant death, and has been associated with increased risks of learning difficulties, visual and hearing impairments and cerebral palsy.
Although researchers have not yet clearly identified a clear cause and treatment for pre-term birth, nutritional supplementation has been found to be one of the best protective factors so far! So, in this episode of Nourish, we're going to discuss four of the most researched nutrients for avoiding preterm birth. Stay tuned! In this episode we're going to delve into four of the best researched nutrients to combat the risk of preterm birth. So, let's get started...
Number 1 - we have to start with omega 3. In 2016, a Cochrane review, which is one of the most respected research authorities there is, concluded that high dose omega 3 supplements significantly decrease the risk of preterm birth. Given how strong this research is, I'm surprised that more women don't take omega 3 supplements during pregnancy.
Their research found that their optimum dose was between 500 to 1000 milligrams of long chain omega 3 per day, containing at least 500 milligrams of DHA per day, from twelve weeks of pregnancy.
And that DHA, that's the important part. In light of this research, I recommend that you ask your health care team if this is also recommended for you. Secondly, low intakes of protein during pregnancy have been correlated with an increased risk of preterm birth. Although most of my clients easily meet their pregnancy protein requirements, mumma's who are malnourished, those with eating disorders, and vegan and vegetarian mummas are some of the one's most likely not to meet their protein requirements. Mumma's with hyperemesis gravidium, which is long-term vomiting throughout pregnancy, and those with food intolerances are also high risk.
If you fit into any of these categories, I'd recommend that you speak to a prenatal dietitian to see if you're meeting your recommended protein requirements during pregnancy. Number three on my list is magnesium. Magnesium drips are often used in hospitals to stop contractions in women with very high risks of preterm birth.
Although many studies have found that women who have preterm births are often deficient in magnesium, most studies that have given mummas magnesium supplements haven't reported any decrease in risk compared to those who weren't. Guidelines recommend that you shouldn't have any more than 350 milligrams of magnesium per day during pregnancy, so if this is something that you want to try, I'd highly encourage you to discuss it with your health care team first. For number four, I've chosen vitamin D. There's been some really interesting studies come out about the role of vitamin D in avoiding preterm birth. For example, a meta-analysis found that whilst vitamin D deficiency in early and late pregnancy don't seem to be correlated with pre-term birth, vitamin D deficiency during the second trimester of pregnancy DOES seem to be. With this in mind, it's worth getting your vitamin D levels checked early in your second trimester, and supplementing them if they're low. Another fascinating study found that women who took high dose vitamin D during pregnancy reduced their risk of pre-term birth by 50 per cent, compared to women who took low dose vitamin D during pregnancy. This suggests to me that if you are vitamin D deficient, it's important to get your levels up quickly. There are however risks around high-dosehigh dose vitamin D supplementation, so I'd recommend getting personalised advice.
There are also interesting studies linking other key nutrients to pre-term labour, so if you're at risk, I recommend that seeing a prenatal dietitian for personalised advice is one of the best investments that you can make in the health of your baby. Best wishes with your pregnancy.
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