Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Pregnant and Breastfeeding WomenA background paper
Date of publication (online): April 2006 (revised November 2008)
Summary of publication
Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: A background paper supports three of the key priorities of the New Zealand Health Strategy (Minister of Health 2000) namely: to improve nutrition, to increase physical activity and to reduce obesity. The background paper highlights how the Food and Nutrition Guidelines can be specifically applied to pregnancy and breastfeeding. It also informs the health education resources for the general public including Eating for Healthy Pregnant Womenand Eating for Healthy Breastfeeding Women.
It is intended that Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: A background paperwill be used by health practitioners, including dietitians, nutritionists, midwives, doctors, nurses, primary health care providers, health promoters; educators and caregivers to provide sound and practical advice and support for pregnant and breastfeeding women and their families.
Updates to recommendations (2009)
The recommendation detailed below has been adopted by the Ministry of Health after the latest (November 2008) revision and reprint of the Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: A background paper. As a result the new information has been included in the PDF version of the Guidelines found on this web page, but is not in the already printed November 2008 version.
March 2009
- Hummus-based dips and spreads should be avoided during pregnancy.
Addition to list of foods to avoid in pregnancy - see Section 4.3.2 Listeria, page 91.
Reprint and revisions (2008)
The Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: A background paper (MoH 2006) has been reprinted. The reprinted document is the same as the 2006 version except for two very specific recommendation changes:
- The first change relates to the recommendation of fish intake when planning for pregnancy and during pregnancy. Specifically it focuses on the mercury content of fish. (Section 4.3.4 Mercury pages 93 and 94; and Section 4.6.1 Pre-conception nutrition – Practical advice, page 110).
- The second change relates to the Effect of maternal nutrition on incidence of infant allergy (Section 4.6.2 pages 110 and 111).
The Ministry considers that the changes made are very specific and should not affect most healthy pregnant or breastfeeding women. However, as with any change in policy or recommendation, it is important to notify the key audiences. Key organisations have been contacted directly regarding these changes.
- The recommendation regarding mercury relates specifically to fish intake during pregnancy and when planning a pregnancy (Sections 4.3.4 and 4.6.1)
The updated recommendation has divided species of commonly eaten fish into three categories based on their possible mercury content. The previous recommendation had two categories only (I and II). Recommended maximum intake of fish during preconception and pregnancy is determined by which category the fish is in. The updated recommendation sees some fish from the first category move into the second and some from the second into the third category of fish.
- For the first category (which includes most fish), there is little concern around the amount eaten.
- The second category recommends limiting the intake of certain fish that may contain higher levels of mercury, to four 150g servings per week.
- The third category includes school shark, marlin, swordfish and cardinal fish as well as trout caught in geothermal regions. These fish should only be consumed up to once a fortnight during pregnancy.
- The recommendation regarding the maternal diet and prevention of food allergy relates specifically to consuming peanuts. This change is to bring the pregnancy and breastfeeding guidelines in to line with Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Infants and Toddlers (Aged 0-2): A background paper (MoH 2008).
The updated recommendation states that avoiding peanuts and peanut products during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not necessary (Section 4.6.2).
The previous recommendation was that pregnant and breastfeeding women, in families with allergic disease should avoid peanuts and peanut products.
Please note: If the pregnant or breastfeeding woman has a peanut allergy she will need to continue to avoid peanuts and peanut products for her own safety.
Related information
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Publishing information
Date of publication (hard copy): April 2006 (revised November 2008)
ISBN numbers: 978-0-478-31778-7 (Print), 978-0-478-31779-4 (Online)
HP number: 4232
Citation: Ministry of Health. 2006 (revised 2008). Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: A background paper. Wellington: Ministry of Health. |
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