Expectant mothers’ eating habits are mostly healthy, but almost 70 percent of pregnant women receive too little vitamin D, according to a Kuopio-based study.
University of Eastern Finland nutrition researcher Sari Voutilainen says one-third of the participants in the Kuopio University Hospital’s health survey of expectant mothers do not take the recommended 10 microgram supplement of vitamin D during their pregnancy.
Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may be associated with, for example, the risk of the child developing allergies or asthma.
Otherwise, the eating habits of mothers in the study were generally healthy. For example, their diets contained more than the recommended minimum of vegetables and berries.
Furthermore, the women in the study were quite diligent in observing recommended dietary limitations. In addition to avoiding alcohol, it is also recommended that pregnant women avoid, amongst other foods, certain fish and liver dishes, as well as flax grain and seed. In addition liquorice, the Finnish candy salmiakki and coffee should also be restricted.
Ten percent of expectant mothers have symptoms of depression
The study also revealed that mild depressive symptoms affect one in ten women during the time that they are carrying their unborn child. Sensitivity to gestational depression increases towards the end of pregnancy and is at its highest after giving birth.
Mood related symptoms are thought to be linked to imbalances in the body’s regulatory factors which may in turn be harmful to the developing foetus.
Maternal depression was assessed according to a points system designed to give a clear picture of maternal anxiety.
When these points are exceeded or undercut, public health nurses are able to identify those pregnant women who are in risk situations, says Leah Keski-Nisula, head of Kuopio University Hospital’s gynecological and obstetric department.
Results form part of broader health research
The results of the research complement a broader health study by Kuopio University Hospital which sets out, amongst other factors, how conditions during pregnancy affect the later life of the child.
Starting three years ago, some 3,000 women from the Savo region who were either pregnant or had already given birth took part in the Kuopio Birth Cohort study. The goal is to collect research from 10,000 mother-child pairs over five years.
Voutilainen points out that such studies do tend to attract fairly health-conscious people and the Kuopio research does not necessarily reach the contingent of women who may not be taking care of themselves.
The study is the most widespread e-survey based research into maternal and child health in Finland to date.
