Pregnancy Diet & Nutrition: DHA

A full-term pregnancy typically lasts for 40 weeks. It is divided into three stages called “trimesters”. Each trimester calls for different nutritional needs due to hormonal and physiological changes. Having the right nutrition for each stage is crucial for you and your unborn child.

First trimester dietary recommendation

During your first trimester, it is recommended to have foods rich in folate such as leafy vegetables, eggs, beans, and citrus fruits. Alternatively, you can take folic acid which can be found in vitamin supplements and fortified foods. Based on a research conducted in a group of Singaporean women of childbearing age, it was shown that the fortified milk containing folic acid given to the participants

indicated an increase in blood folate concentrations at the end of the 12 weeks¹ . The consumption of folate and/or folic acid lowers the risk of developing neural tube defects (NTDs) in your unborn child, involving defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord commonly occurring in the first month of pregnancy.

Also, foods that are rich in vitamin B6 like spinach, eggs, sweet potatoes, beef, and carrots help with easing nausea, reducing stress, and maintaining optimum health.

Second trimester dietary recommendation

As you progress into the second stage of your pregnancy, you will need foods that strengthen and maintain bone density. Calcium and vitamin D foods comprise of spinach, soybeans, okra, milk, cheese, fatty fish and egg yolks. Direct sunlight on the skin stimulates the body to produce vitamin D. As it is the mum’s responsibility to provide adequate calcium and vitamin D for fetal bone formation and development in your little one, your diet is more important than ever.

Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids include oily fish, flaxseeds and walnuts. The human body can produce all fatty acids, except for two essential omega 3 & omega 6 fatty acids namely alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) which must be obtained from food sources. There are 3 types of omega-3s, namely alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Moreover, getting adequate intakes of iron from red meats, spinach, soybeans, lentils, and cooked oysters will increase the number of red blood cells in the body. Iron deficiency in pregnant women leads to fatigue, weakens the immune system, and increases the baby’s risk of low birth weight.

Third trimester dietary recommendation

In the final stage of your pregnancy, incorporate your meal plan with foods rich in vitamin K like green leafy vegetables, avocados, natto beans and chicken to help with blood clotting to prevent excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured.

Importance of DHA in pregnancy

As mentioned earlier, DHA is one of the main nutrients needed throughout pregnancy. As part of the omega-3 fatty acids, DHA also functions as a vital source of brain development in babies². This applies the same importance of DHA intake for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. According to a research study, DHA is the most important omega-3 due to its integral role in brain development, vision health, and keeping our other parts of the body for optimum function for both adults and babies3.

Here at Dumex, we have specially formulated Dumex Mamil Mama for expecting and breastfeeding mothers as we know the importance of maternal nutrition.

Dumex Mamil Mama: Advanced pregnancy milk powder for new mothers

Dumex Mamil Mama is our advanced maternal supplement for expecting and breastfeeding mothers from our premium range of the new Dumex Mamil Gold. It is formulated with essential nutrient goodness such as folic acid, calcium and iron for mothers. Along with other Dumex Mamil Gold products, Dumex Mamil Mama also includes omega-3s alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and omega-6s linoleic acid (LA) which are precursors of DHA and ARA (arachidonic acid) ― with no added sucrose!

Find out more about Dumex Mamil Mama and our other Dumex Mamil Gold premium products at https://www.dumex.com.sg/products today!

1. Cheong, M., Xiao, H. Y., Tay, V., Karakochuk, C. D., & Liu, Y. A. (2016). Folic acid fortified milk increases blood folate to concentrations associated with a very low risk of neural tube defects in Singaporean women of childbearing age. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 25(1), 62-70.

2. Guesnet, P., & Alessandri, J. M. (2011). Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the developing central nervous system (CNS) - Implications for dietary recommendations. Biochimie, 93(1), 7–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biochi.2010.05.005

3. Innis S. M. (2008). Dietary omega 3 fatty acids and the developing brain. Brain Research, 1237, 35–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2008.08.078