New quality standard on Nutrition

Published on: 01/08/2015

 

NICE have published a new quality standard entitled “Nutrition: improving maternal and child nutrition”.  The standards state “The importance of ensuring that mothers and their babies are well‑nourished is widely recognised. A pregnant woman’s nutrition influences the growth and development of her fetus and forms the foundations for the child’s health. The mother’s health, both in the short and long term, also depends on how well‑nourished she is before, during and after pregnancy.” The quality standard can be summarised in the following six statements:

 

Statement 1. Pregnant women attending antenatal and health visitor appointments are given advice on how to eat healthily in pregnancy.

Statement 2. Women with a BMI of 30 or more after childbirth are offered a structured weight‑loss programme.

Statement 3. Pregnant women and the parents and carers of children under 4 years who may be eligible for the Healthy Start scheme are given information and support to apply.

Statement 4. Women receive breastfeeding support from a service that uses an evaluated, structured programme.

Statement 5. Parents and carers are given advice on introducing their baby to a variety of nutritious foods to complement breastmilk or formula milk.

Statement 6. Parents and carers receiving Healthy Start food vouchers are offered advice on how to use them to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables in their family’s diet.

 

For the full document and more information on each standard see NICE 

For more information about eating healthily in pregnancy visit our Be Healthy page here