Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service

When mum is pregnant, she needs extra vitamins and minerals to help baby grow healthy and strong!

Iron Iron is a mineral that helps mum and baby have strong blood.

» If mum has low iron, it is important to talk to the doctor because mum might need to take iron supplements

» Foods that have iron:• Cooked beef, lamb, pork• Cooked fish (no bones)• Cooked chicken (no skin)• Green leafy veggies • Baked beans • Eggs (cooked through)• Peanut butter.

Folate Folate is a vitamin that helps baby’s spinal cord and brain grow.

» Important for mum to eat folate before she falls pregnant and for the first 3 months of pregnancy

» Foods that have folate:• Green leafy veggies • Breads and cereals (with folate added)• Broccoli and avocado• Oranges, pawpaw and bananas• Talk to your doctor about taking folate supplements.

Vitamins and

minerals

Iodine Iodine is a mineral that helps baby’s brain develop.

» If mum has problems with her thyroid, it is important to see the doctor. This is because the thyroid helps to maintain her iodine levels

» Foods that have iodine:• Cooked seafood

• Bread

• Cheddar cheese

• Eggs (cooked through)

• Talk to your doctor about taking iodine supplements.

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These services are confidential with experienced professionals. They can be contacted 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en ISSN 1833-6566Copyright information © State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2016

All information contained in this sheet has been supplied by qualified professionals as a guideline for care only. Seek medical advice, as appropriate, for concerns regarding you and your child’s health.

FS246 developed by Good Start program. Updated: June 2017.