PM Procare - Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Formula

Caring for two takes it out of your body. That’s why Procare is specially designed to assist mothers in meeting the increased nutritional demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding. In addition to folate, omega-3, calcium and iron for infant development, Procare delivers a combination of essential vitamins and minerals to help both mother and child meet the nutritional requirements to promote a healthy birth and infancy. Taken regularly during pregnancy and breastfeeding, Procare can help improve general wellbeing, and give you piece of mind.

FOLIC ACID:Folic acid is the most thoroughly researched nutrient for pregnancy. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that all women of childbearing age who are capable of becoming pregnant should consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily in addition to eating a healthy diet in order to reduce the risk of neural tube defect pregnancies or developing a child afflicted with spina bifida. Procare delivers the WHO recommended dose in just one capsule.

FISH OIL, DHA AND EPA: There is now clear evidence that dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids is essential for normal eye and brain development. While evidence suggests that fish oils containing omega-3 fatty acids increases fertility, fish oil is a key source of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), one of the main nutrients required by the foetus for healthy brain and nervous system development. DHA is incorporated into the neuronal structure of the brain and nervous system as they develop throughout pregnancy, thereby forming part of the central nervous and visual system structures.

Additional research has shown that children whose mothers consumed higher levels of DHA omega-3 fatty acids scored better in intelligence tests, possessing higher cognitive and memory abilities as well as better reflexes due to advanced neural development. Research has also demonstrated a correlation in children between a lack of DHA and the experience of problems with concentration and learning, behavioural problems including ADHD (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and other conditions such as depression. DHA increases membrane fluidity, improving neural development and neuronal plasticity, which encourages better connectivity throughout the nervous system and may improve the transmission of signals throughout the body. This may also enhance retinal photoreceptor activity.

All foetuses and newborns have demanding DHA requirements, with their mother the only source throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is therefore an essential source of DHA for young children, making it critical for mothers to ensure that their own intake is adequate.

While less is known about the omega-3 fatty acid EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), this form of fish oil has been shown to provide health benefits in the development and maintenance of cardiovascular and immune health. In particular, the intake of EPA has been linked to fewer allergies experienced by babies.

POTASSIUM IODIDE: Research has shown that where iodine supplementation has occurred during pregnancy, children tend to have better psychomotor test scores when compared to those whose mothers did not supplement with iodine. One study examined the growth and development of 207 children whose mothers received iodine during pregnancy, and children who received iodine for the first time in their 2nd year. There were 192 children whose mothers received iodine while pregnant. Head circumference was improved for those who received iodine during pregnancy (compared with those receiving iodine at age 2). Further, head circumference was greater for those supplemented with iodine before the end of the 2nd trimester when compared to those supplemented during the 3rd trimester. Iodine before the 3rd trimester predicted higher psychomotor test scores for children relative to those provided iodine later in pregnancy or at 2 years. Results from the test for cognitive development resulted in trend only differences between those children supplemented with iodine during pregnancy as compared to those that were not.

Iodine is a fundamental substrate for thyroid hormone synthesis. Thyroxine and triiodothyronine play a crucial role in human brain development and maturation. It is well known that not only foetal, but also maternal thyroid hormones are essential for normal prenatal central nervous system development. During pregnancy complex changes of maternal thyroid function occur and are influenced by the maternal iodine supply. With decreasing iodine intake, maternal goiter and hypothyroxinemia as well as foetal and neonatal hypothyroidism become more prevalent. The severity of iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism in the mother during early and mid-gestation can relate to the severity of the neural damage in the foetus. In severe iodine deficiency, central nervous system damage is irreversible at birth. Iodine supplementation during pregnancy is therefore strongly recommended.

CALCIUM: Calcium is essential for the development of strong teeth and bones and hence is required during pregnancy and breastfeeding for healthy baby development. As the baby’s nutritional requirements are given priority during pregnancy, calcium deficiency during this period can increase the risk of osteoporosis in mothers in later life. Further, calcium helps reduce the risk of high blood pressure through a series of mechanisms, as well as reducing the risk of preterm labour.

FERROUS FUMARATE: Iron deficiency is quite common in women, and more so in expectant and breastfeeding mothers due to the increased blood volume required to support the developing baby during pregnancy, and the baby’s ongoing requirements while breastfeeding. Low iron is associated with an increased risk of a low birth weight and possibly inferior neonatal health, as the capacity of the blood to carry nutrients to working cells is compromised.

MAGNESIUM: Magnesium supplementation is also important in the treatment and prevention of calcium deficiency and the maintenance of healthy bones, as it is essential for bone, protein and fatty acid formation. Maintaining adequate levels of magnesium is critical in order for vitamin D to be converted to its active metabolite and assist the absorption of calcium into the system. The requirement for magnesium increases during pregnancy and breastfeeding, being necessary for the maternal health, as well as for the development of the child.

ZINC: Zinc is essential for healthy foetal and baby development. Zinc is responsible for stimulating bone formation and inhibiting bone resorption, while zinc deficiency can lead to the impairment of bone growth and has been shown to increase the risk of preterm delivery. Zinc is incorporated into the cell structure, and is essential for the ongoing patency of cells during cellular division. Zinc has been linked in particular to cardiovascular and immune health. Zinc amino acid chelate consists of zinc combined with amino acids in order to enhance zinc absorption.

VITAMIN D: Vitamin D stimulates the formation and growth of bones and teeth by regulating the body's calcium:phosphorus ratio and by activating bone development. Vitamin D acts as a cofactor for calcium utilisation by the body by improving bone density and bone health through the maintenance of calcium absorption while at the same time inhibiting bone resorption.

VITAMINS B, C AND E: Pregnancy creates higher than normal demands for micronutrients, particularly vitamin A, the B group vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin E, as these are essential for the development of the foetus. Vitamin A is essential for the health and maintenance of the eyes, the immune system and the skin; the B group vitamins each have a special role to play in maintaining overall health and development, including supporting DNA and RNA synthesis, cell production, division, proliferation and metabolism, as well as promoting cardiovascular and immune health; vitamin C is crucial for the maintenance of general health and wellbeing, and is required for cellular metabolism and function, as well as the maintenance of the immune system; vitamin E is linked to immune and skin health, while also playing an important role in the maintenance of a healthy reproductive system.

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