You’ve gotten that positive pregnancy test after trying to conceive naturally or with the help of artificial reproductive technology (ART), so big congratulations are in order! It’s an exciting time, growing that family that you’ve always dreamed of. Now that you know you’re pregnant, your focus starts to shift on maintaining the pregnancy and carrying to term. Knowing your health risks, your naturopathic doctor (ND) can help to guide you through the trimesters to prevent complications of pregnancy and premature labour. November 17th marks World Prematurity Day to bring awareness to the risks associated with premature births, As many as 1 in 10 babies are born prematurely.

Babies are considered premature if they’re born before 37 weeks. There are health risks associated with premature birth and these include: malformations of the heart and gut, jaundice, breathing problems, and anemia, among other health concerns, Studies have also shown that there can be multiple long-term complications that can affect a baby’s development and growth.

Multiple causes of prematurity have been identified including chronic infections, diabetes, hypertension as well as genetic causes. Many of these underlying health concerns can be addressed with the help of your GP, OB/GYN and other specialists, as well as your naturopathic doctor as a collaborative team. Your ND can provide nutritional and dietary support to promote healthy blood sugar regulation to prevent gestational diabetes or to help you manage your need for insulin if you’re diabetic, as well as provide you with tools to normalize your blood pressure safely during your pregnancy. They can also guide you through the assessment for group B streptococcus (GBS) where a swab is taken to identify your risk for infection. GBS infection has been associated with prematurity and preventative measures like echinacea and probiotics can help to prevent positive GBS swabs and the need for IV antibiotics.

Including a naturopathic doctor on your health care team to support you through your pregnancy journey can help you and your baby stay as healthy as possible over the next nine months.

References

Goldenberg RL, Culhane JF, Iams JD, Romero R. Epidemiology and causes of preterm birth. Lancet. 2008;371(9606):75-84. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60074-4

Gurung, A., Wrammert, J., Sunny, A.K. et al. Incidence, risk factors and consequences of preterm birth – findings from a multi-centric observational study for 14 months in Nepal. Arch Public Health 78, 64 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-020-00446-7

Martín V, Cárdenas N, Ocaña S, et al. Rectal and Vaginal Eradication of Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) in Pregnant Women by Using Lactobacillus salivarius CECT 9145, A Target-specific Probiotic Strain. Nutrients. 2019;11(4):810. Published 2019 Apr 10. doi:10.3390/nu11040810