Maya has been a healthy, happy vegan since she was a teenager. Now, at age 25 and pregnant for the first time, she is suddenly worried and uncertain about whether she can provide all the nutrients her developing baby needs if she continues to follow her vegan diet during pregnancy. She contacted us at MotherToBaby looking for answers. Maya’s question is not unusual, but since it’s a bit outside our area of expertise, I enlisted the help of an expert in maternal nutrition to help answer …
The Baby Blog: Vitamins & Supplements
Folic Acid
This sheet talks about exposure to folic acid in a pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is folic acid? Folic acid is available as a nutritional supplement. It is the lab-made form of the vitamin folate (vitamin B9). Folate is necessary for making and maintaining healthy cells in the body. Many foods contain folate. These foods include dark leafy greens, asparagus, broccoli, avocado, beans, …
Capsaicin
This sheet talks about exposure to capsaicin in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is capsaicin? Capsaicin is the part of peppers (Solanaceae family, capsicum genus) that make your mouth feel hot. Capsaicin is generally recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in food and candy. Capsaicin is also the main ingredient in pepper spray used for …
Planning a Healthy Pregnancy
Tanya called in on a Monday morning. “I’m getting married in a few months and we want to start trying to get pregnant right away. What should I be doing now to have the best chance of a healthy baby?” Preconception health and pregnancy planning present a terrific opportunity to assess a wide range of factors that can give your baby the best start. This blog will outline the things to consider, as I relayed to Tanya: Your Personal Health Are you generally healthy? If you already get …
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
This sheet talks about using St. John’s Wort in a pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is St. John’s Wort? St. John’s Wort is a flowering plant that is used as an herbal supplement. It is most commonly used to help mild or moderate depression. It is available as a tablet or capsule, liquid extract, tea, and as a cream or ointment, sometimes along with other herbal ingredients. There are …
