Pregnancy & Children
Childhood developmental stages include the infant (birth to 3 years), preschool (3 to 6 years), and school-age (6 to 12 years) stages. The average length of a pregnancy is 40 weeks, which is further split up into three trimesters. During both pregnancy and childhood, adequate nutrition is crucial for optimal growth and development.
Last Updated: August 16 2022
Pregnant individuals frequently struggle with anemia, blood sugar dysregulation, depression, nausea/vomiting, high-blood-pressure, increased urinary frequency, shortness of breath, heartburn, and hair loss. Children sometimes struggle with (ADHD), autism-spectrum-disorder, asthma, eczema, digestive problems, and ear infections.
During pregnancy, consuming enough calories, protein, essential fatty acids (e.g., omega-3s), folic-acid, iodine, vitamin-d, calcium, and iron is crucial for maintaining the health of both parent and child. After birth, it is recommended that infants solely consume breast milk or formula for at least 6 months, at which point solid foods can slowly be introduced. As children grow, it is recommended that they be exposed to foods such as whole grains, fruit-and-vegetable, dairy, lean meat, and fish to ensure that a healthful dietary pattern is established.[1] Thus, getting individualized nutritional counseling from a qualified healthcare provider is beneficial.
Pregnant individuals are usually prescribed a prenatal supplement to prevent any developmental complications. These often include nutrients such as folic-acid, iodine, iron, vitamin-d, and omega-3 fatty acids. Children usually do not need dietary supplements, as they can get adequate nutrition from their diet.[1] Dietary supplements may be needed if a restrictive diet (e.g., vegan diet, vegetarian diet, gaps-diet, SCD, and AIP, is followed because it can increase the risk for nutritional deficiencies. Additionally, there is evidence that fish oil can be helpful for reducing symptoms of ADHD in children.