Women’s nutritional needs change during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so mothers-to-be and those planning to get pregnant need to start making the right nutritional choices for their baby’s health. One of those choices should be to start taking a multivitamin supplement containing folic acid before pregnancy.

Folic acid is a naturally occurring vitamin which a body needs. She does not get enough folic acid, her baby has a higher risk of developing a type of birth defect called neural tube defect (NTD). While folic acid can be found in some of the foods we eat, most international guidelines recommend that women should take a folic acid supplement at least 12 weeks before conception, throughout pregnancy, and four to six weeks after delivery or as long as breastfeeding continues.

Starting a supplement before getting pregnant prepares the body for future pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman’s need for a number of essential nutrients increases, for instance, extra iron is required to help maintain a healthy placenta. It is important to choose a multivitamin that is especially formulated for use during pregnancy. Nestlé Materna helps provide the vitamins and minerals needed during all stages of pregnancy.

And after pregnancy, Nestlé Materna provides both calcium and vitamin D to help meet the nutritional needs while breastfeeding. Available in pharmacies.