----- Original Message
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Sent:
Wednesday, February 22, 2006 12:32 AM
Subject:
RE: [ozmidwifery] supplements during pregnancy
Hoi Païvi,
What I read through the time about folic acid is that only women
that took chemical anticonception for a long time need folic acid. They
don’t absorb it well and have low levels when they stop with the
anticonception. So you can make a difference with women who didn’t take
anticonception for a while.
I also read, but don’t ask me where J that taking folic acide doesn’t reduce the incidence of
neural tube defects, but with normal levels a womens body works better, so also
the natural selection, so the affected foetus is spontaneously aborted.
So I stimulate women that took oral anticonception to wait a while
before getting pregnant and to supplement with folic acid. If thay come on
preconceptional consultation I do a blood test and test for folic acid an iron
and never give supplements without reason.
In the books of Michel Odent you also can find that a drop in hb
level and iron after 28 weeks is very normal. It seems that women who
don’t have the drop are more at risk for premature delivery. So I never
give supplementation of iron, except there is a real severe anaemia. You always
have to keep in mind that also bacteries grow on iron. Around birth a woman is
vulnarable to infections so it is normal for a body to protect itself by
lowering the iron reserves.
I recommend healthy food, walking and swimming and it works.
Kind regards
Lieve
Lieve
Huybrechts
vroedvrouw
0477740853
-----Oorspronkelijk
bericht-----
Van:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Namens
Päivi Laukkanen
Verzonden: dinsdag 21 februari
2006 22:39
Aan:
ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Onderwerp: Re: [ozmidwifery]
supplements during pregnancy
Thank you for the
information. Here in finland you can't get just folic acid on it's own. It
always comes in a multivitamin or ironsupplement I guess. I would like to
provide a reasonable product for Finnish women, so do you think, that I should
seek for a plain folic acid product, and sell that in my store? Can you
remember the daily recommendations for folic acid?
----- Original Message
-----
Sent:
Tuesday, February 21, 2006 11:00 PM
Subject:
RE: [ozmidwifery] supplements during pregnancy
Iron should only be taken by women who are anaemic, or you can see
they are heading that way (ie Hb going down.) Of course these women need full
investigation too, with iron studies and a medical examination and history.
There has been some question that giving iron to women who don't need it can
lead to blood which is more viscid, and reduces the blood flow through the
placenta.
Folic acid on the other hand, drastically reduces the incidence of
neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly, with a possible side
effect of a small increase in the possibility of having twins. Women who have a
history of a previous baby with a neural tube defects are prescribed higher
doses. Folic acid should be taken pre-conception and for the first fourteen
weeks.
I don't see the need for any other supplementation than folic acid,
unless the woman has a demonstrated deficiency or they are strict vegans, in
which case I believe supplementation with B12 is recommended.
-----Original Message-----
From:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On
Behalf Of Päivi Laukkanen
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006
6:35 AM
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Subject: [ozmidwifery] supplements
during pregnancy
I lived in US, when
expecting my first one and there it was always in the magazines, that all women
planning pregnancy or pregnant should take folic acid supplements. Here in
Finland we don't really hear about folic acid. It is mainly the iron, that is
suggested during pregnancy. Or multivitamins. Pharmaceutical companies are
recommending all sorts of stuff, but what really are the important ones... What
kind of supplements do you midwives recommend for your clients to take during
pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Independent Childbirth
educator