Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSDH updates pregnancy and birth guides
New advice on storing breast milk and safe medicines to take during pregnancy are some of the updates the Department of Health has made to its Pregnancy and Birth to Five books.
The books will be given free to all pregnant women and new parents by their midwives and health visitors.
The Pregnancy and Birth to Five books have been updated to reflect latest advice and evidence and include extra information parents have requested. Some of the changes include:
- Increasing the amount of time it is recommended breast milk can be stored in a fridge from 24 hours to 5 days
- Reflecting latest Food Standards Agency advice that: it is safe for mothers to eat peanuts during pregnancy, but babies shouldn’t be given them for the first six months of life
- Pregnant women should not drink more than 200mg of caffeine a day – that’s two mugs of instant coffee
- A step-by-step breastfeeding guide and information on medicines for common ailments while pregnant or breastfeeding
Commenting on the new books, health minister Ann Keen said: “Parents have told us how useful they find these books and the advice they give, and we’ve listened to their feedback on what extra information they need. That’s why we’ve updated the Pregnancy and Birth to Five books to include more advice on the topics parents find most difficult including postnatal depression and breastfeeding.
“I would encourage all parents to use these books and their midwife and health visitor to ensure they have all the information and support they need through pregnancy and early years.”
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