Caring for mother and child during pregnancy
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 The health information contained herein is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider, considering the unique characteristics of each patient.
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Nutrition before and during pregnancy: SmokingSmoking has been shown to increase the likeliness of having a low birth weight baby. In addition, the babies born underweight have an increased risk for diseases and infections. The long-term general development of the child may also be affected. Ideally, you should stop smoking completely; otherwise reduce your consumption as much as possible. You should talk to your healthcare professional about the most effective methods available to help you quit smoking. Furthermore, exposure to nicotine or second-hand smoke has been proven to increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or crib death. For more information on the harmful effects of nicotine and second-hand smoking on your pregnancy, please contact the Motherisk Program at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. The Alcohol and Substance Use Helpline (1-877-327-4636) provides information on the fetal effects of alcohol, nicotine and drugs of abuse such as marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy. |
For your reading:Pregnant or Trying? Make sure to take your supplements! Prenatal Multivitamin-Mineral Supplementation: Minimizing Adverse Events Health Canada: Folic Acid and Birth Defect Women of childbearing age:"All women who could become pregnant and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding need a multivitamin containing folic acid every day. Pregnant women need to ensure that their multivitamin also contains iron. A healthcare professional can help you find the multivitamin that's right for you."Ref.: Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide - PDF (1.755 Mb) See page 5 |