BRAIN HEALTH FOR YOUR BABY

Promoting baby’s brain health in pregnancy and after birth is essential for their overall wellbeing. The brain is the most vital organ in your baby. During pregnancy and in early childhood, there is rapid growth of the brain which produces up to 250,000 nerve cells per minute.

The most rapid growth occurs during the third trimester and in the first year of life. Babies are born with more than 100 billion nerve cells which regenerate and reform as the baby learns new things. At birth the average baby’s brain is a quarter of an adult size and doubles in size in the first year. It is 90% grown by the age of 5.

There are many things you can do to help your baby to build great nerve networks from positive memories, interactions and diet. These all contribute to building healthy pathways for creating thoughts, processing abilities and social interactions. These are described as cognitive skills which include

1. Memory processing speeds

2. Attention

3. Emotional control

4. Language

5. Q

6. Creativity

7. Social skills

8. Non verbal communication.

So cognitive development is not just about achieving at school but also happiness and creativity.

So what nutrition is important for brain health?

Folic Acid

This is also known as vitamin B9. This has been shown to halve the risk of autism through a protective mechanism against environmental and detoxification effects. It is also well known to reduce the chance of spinal defects such as spina bifida. Around 400mcg is needed per day in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Choline

This is another B vitamin which is critical for brain growth and health. It is vital for preventing birth defects and acts like folate in detoxification reactions. A deficiency of either choline or folate will compromise the other.

It has another critical action in providing the building blocks for new brain cells. A new baby thus needs a constant supply. In fact babies have up to a 7 times higher levels than adults when they are born. Unfortunately between 55-75% of western populations have been found to be deficient and it is thus recommended to have a supplement of at least 450 mg per day by health authorities. The minimum recommended in breastfeeding is 550 mg per day. Unfortunately many prenatal do not contain the required amount so you may consider taking a stand alone supplement of choline.

Omega 3

Omega-3 fatty acids, specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are important for brain development and function. During pregnancy, omega-3 fatty acids can have several potential benefits for the developing baby’s brain. Here are some of the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for brain health in pregnancy:

Improved cognitive development: Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, are critical for the development of the brain and nervous system. Several studies have found that maternal consumption of omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy is associated with improved cognitive development in infants and young children. For example, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials published in the journal Paediatrics in 2018 found that prenatal supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids was associated with improved cognitive outcomes in children up to four years of age.

We have devised a fantastic range of supplements to meet all these needs. Designed by doctors including a paediatrician to optimise the brain health of your baby. For more advice and tips please follow us on Instagram or Facebook. Or check our our blog at www.purermama.co.uk

Photography by natashawiening.com