Urgent message for pregnant women and those who may become pregnant.
1. Ask your doctor about choline and for him/her to read the November 08, 2016, Medscape article “Can a Prenatal Supplement Prevent Mental Illness?” The article details an interview of Robert Freedman, M.D. by Bret S. Stetka, M.D. regarding research on the use of choline as a supplement during pregnancy. Illnesses mentioned in the article are schizophrenia, bi-polar, and ADHD.
Here is the source: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/871311?src=WNL_infoc_161119_MSCPEDIT&uac=100376FK&impID=1236302&faf=1Illnesses
An additional resource is the slideshow “Your Pre-Pregnancy Checklist” at WebMD.
2. Ask about your B12 level and diabetes risk. You may need a supplement.
Refer to http”//www.medscape.com/viewarticle/872008
3. Ask to be tested for subclinical hypothyroidism. Pregnancy increases the amount of thyroid needed. Treatment with thyroid hormone may reduce the chances of still-birth, low birth weight and early cesarean delivery.
Refer to http://www.rxlist.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=199946
You will also want to take your prenatal vitamin-mineral pill and be sure it has 400 mcg of folic acid to prevent spinal cord problems in the baby. In fact all women who may become pregnant are asked to take that amount daily since a high number of pregnancies are unplanned.
See http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/recommendations.html.
Please help provide this urgent message to women of all ages who may become pregnant.