Chela-Preg Taken once daily, Chela-Preg is available on prescription from your doctor or from your local pharmacy.

Good nutrition is vital
We normally think of nutrition as a personal issue, affecting only our health. However, as a woman, your nutrition today will lay the foundation for the health of your child. The nutrition demands of pregnancy are extraordinary because the growth of a new human being requires every nutrient - and extra amounts of them. Poor nutrition during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight babies, amongst other problems.

Conception
Healthy women whose bodies have optimum stores of essential vitamins and minerals have an advantage when it comes to conceiving, as poor nutrition can reduce chances of conception. High levels of essential vitamins and minerals give your baby – and your body – that extra support from day one.

Pregnancy
A balanced maternal diet is essential to ensure proper foetal development. The physiological adjustments of a pregnant woman’s body are significant, and her nutritional requirements increase as a result. Your energy reserves and intake of iron and calcium must be sufficient not only for your own needs, but for those of your baby’s. Other essential elements are protein, folic acid and sodium.

Post-Natal
After birth, your body will continue to supply your baby with essential nutrients through your milk, so it is important to continue a healthy diet, supplemented with a sufficient intake of vitamins and minerals. A body with strong reserves will also help you recover more quickly from your pregnancy.

Important dietary elements

Energy
During your pregnancy, your body will require an extra 300 calories per day and, if you are physically active, even more than that. The greatest need for energy begins at 10 weeks and lasts about five months, tapering off in the final weeks. During the lactation period, your body will require an additional 500 calories a day.
Sources: Carbohydrate-rich foods such as cereals, fruits, vegetables, legumes and pasta.

Protein
Protein provides amino acids for forming body proteins, including the structural proteins that build tissues. A body that is in the process of building itself, such as a growing foetus, will require a great deal of protein. Protein may also be used as a source of energy when fat and carbohydrate supplies run low.

Sources: Animal products such as meat, eggs, cheese and milk are complete protein sources, while vegetables, beans and grains may be combined to create complete proteins.

Folic Acid
Folate, a water-soluble vitamin, helps the body form red blood cells and aids in the formation of genetic material within every body cell.
A pregnant woman’s Recommended Daily Allowance for folate is twice that of a non-pregnant woman’s due to the increase in her blood volume and the rapid growth of the foetus. Research has shown that Folic Acid Deficiency is associated with babies born with neural tube defects, abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord such as spina bifida. The risk is higher if folic acid levels are low before conception and in the first few weeks of pregnancy.

Sources: Fruits and vegetables, as fresh as possible. It is possible, but not easy, to obtain enough folate for pregnancy from unfortified foods.

Iron
During pregnancy, your iron stores dwindle because the developing foetus draws on them to create stores of its own to carry it through its first three to six months of life. Current knowledge indicates that iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy is a risk factor for pre-term delivery and subsequent low birth weight, and possibly inferior neonatal health.

Sources: Meat, hard-boiled egg yolks and vegetables such as spinach and beetroot.

Calcium
During pregnancy, calcium is in great demand in order to provide for the formation of your baby's bones. Increased intake is therefore recommended throughout your pregnancy.
Sources: Milk products, dried beans and dark, leafy green vegetables. Women who dislike milk products or have allergies should take additional
calcium supplements.

The importance of supplements
Nutrient needs during periods of intensive growth are greater than at any other times – and pregnancy is certainly one of these periods. By eating the foods recommended by your doctor and in this pamphlet, it is possible – although difficult – to obtain sufficient amounts of the vitamins and minerals needed throughout your pregnancy. Supplements help your body to obtain and absorb sufficient amounts of the necessary nutrients before, during and after your term.

About Chela-Preg
Generally, iron is poorly absorbed by the body. However, in CHELA-PREG, the iron molecules are bonded (chelated) to organic amino acids, which act as ‘carriers’ for the iron, thus the mineral is better absorbed by the body. The patented method of chelation used to produce this product represents a major advance in mineral supplementation.

This product is available at all leading pharmacies.

Nutrition information