Women’s nutritional needs change during pregnancy and breastfeeding. So making the right nutritional choices before one becomes pregnant will be important for the baby’s health. One of these choices should be to start taking a multivitamin supplement containing folic acid before becoming pregnant. Folic acid is a naturally occurring vitamin the body needs.

If a woman does not get enough folic acid, her baby has a higher risk of developing neural tube defect (NTD). One way to help prevent NTDs is to make sure one gets enough folic acid. 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 one gets 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 one needs during all stages of pregnancy.

After pregnancy, Nestlé Materna provides both calcium and vitamin D to help meet nutritional needs while breastfeeding. Nestlé Materna, which has the extra vitamins and minerals the body needs before, during and after pregnancy, is available in pharmacies.