LIFE begins in the womb and Dr Pauline Lee (below), 28, knows how to get a good head start.
When she was five weeks into her pregnancy, one of the first things she did was to watch her diet.
Dr Lee, a dentist in private practice, says: "I started myself on milk for pregnant mothers as soon as I realised that I was pregnant. I also took folic acid and prenatal vitamins. I avoided raw food and food that was not fully cooked. This meant giving up my favourite Japanese sashimi and medium rare steaks. I also avoided coffee and alcoholic drinks, which was easy as I was never a fan of both.
"Having read a lot over the Internet and in pregnancy guides, I believed that what I ate or did would have an impact on the growth and development of my baby."
While she was concerned about putting on too much weight, Dr Lee was careful not to deprive her baby of the necessary nutrients by making sure that she had a balanced diet.
She also did brisk walking and swam three or four times a week.
Dr Lee, who was 15kg heavier than her normal weight at the end of her pregnancy, gave birth to a 3.1kg baby, Jayden, in September 2009.
Jayden, who was breastfed from day one, is still on breast milk today. Dr Lee says: "The nutritional and emotional benefits that breastfeeding offers is so immense that it seems like the natural thing to do. In addition, I also believe that breastfeeding benefits the mother and helps reduce chances of allergies in the baby."
As breastfeeding can be tiring for the mother, her husband, Dr Chris Mak, takes over most of the household chores and makes sure that her supply of supplements is always there. He also makes her a cup of milk in the morning before going to work.
At present, Dr Lee continues taking the prenatal vitamin supplements which are indicated for lactating mothers. She adds: "I take DHA supplements and milk for lactating and pregnant mothers to ensure that I am well nourished so as to provide adequate nutrients for my child in turn."
As Jayden has started on semi solids, Dr Lee makes sure that he is exposed to a variety of food. She chooses the products according to his age, the taste and the nutritional value.
For Ms Joanne Ong (above), 33, expecting a pair of twins was too good to be true, she says.
Ms Ong, whose oldest child is six years old, says: "The first scan showed that there was only an egg sac. I was pleasantly surprised when subsequent scans showed that I was expecting twins, a boy and a girl for that matter!"
Naturally, she was concerned about the twins’ growth. "In addition to a balanced diet, I also took multivitamins, had lots of juices and tonics. Everyone in the family was just so excited and they made sure I ate well!"
It was a smooth pregnancy and she carried the babies to full term.
Now at seven months, her twins weigh about 8kg each. Ms Ong says: "When it comes to nutrition, I always check with the doctor and my friends who are mums, as well as read up to find out what's best for their growth."
BIGGER may not be better in pregnancy, says Dr Adrian Tan (right), a senior consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at ACJ Women's Clinic at Thomson Medical Centre.
"Some mothers are preoccupied with their weight gain and they have the misconception that they should eat voraciously for baby to grow.
"Truth is, if you put on too much weight, you tend to have a bigger baby. It is harder to deliver big babies and more difficult for the mother to lose the extra weight eventually.
"Women should concentrate on a high nutrient diet – more fresh fruits and vegetables without piling on empty calories, that is less carbohydrates and fats," Dr Tan advises.
There has been a rethink on the recommended weight gain in pregnancy, and studies have shown that women perhaps need only a total weight gain of 8kg to 12kg during their pregnancy.
A balanced diet that includes a wide variety of food from different groups, focusing on high nutrients foods and watching the total caloric intake, is recommended for pregnant women.
Folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy have been proven to be effective in preventing brain and spinal malformations in babies.
Some doctors may also advise pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers to add multi-vitamins, calcium and DHA supplements to their diet.
Dr Tan says: "There is merit in supplementing your diet with the recommended dosages of supplements. But a balanced diet, coupled with regular exercise and a renewed focus on positive family relationships, is still key to a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby."
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Maternal Supplement for Pregnant & Breast-feeding Mothers