News Release
1999-64
April 26, 1999
Minister launches Nutritional Guidelines for Healthy Pregnancy
Ottawa - Health Minister Allan Rock today launched Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy: National Guidelines for the Childbearing Years. The nutritional guidelines provide comprehensive and updated information on nutrition and healthy eating issues for women during pregnancy and throughout the childbearing years.
“These Guidelines reflect the federal government's commitment to ensuring Canada's children get a healthy start in life, providing a strong foundation for lifelong health,” said Minister Rock.
The Guidelines were developed with the support of an expert advisory committee including representatives from the research, medical, nursing, midwifery and nutrition fields. The Guidelines are based on new and updated scientific information and provide evidence-based, nutrition-related information for counselling women throughout the childbearing years and during pregnancy. The Guidelines have been endorsed by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, the members of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Group on Nutrition and the Dietitians of Canada. They are directed to health practitioners, who provide nutrition-related advice and guidance to women. These include physicians, nurses, midwives, dietitians and nutritionists, pharmacists, educators and fitness professionals.
"These Guidelines are extremely useful for both the pregnant woman and the professional, because they give them the confidence to discuss nutrition issues at every patient visit, whether the issue be nausea or an inadequate intake of folic acid" said Dr. André Lalonde, executive vice-president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, who helped draft the guidelines.
Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy: National Guidelines for the Childbearing Years replaces Nutrition in Pregnancy: National Guidelines published by Health and Welfare Canada in 1987.
Reflecting current knowledge and concerns, the 1999 Guidelines:
- are broader in that they discuss nutrition and women's health issues in the childbearing years as they relate to pregnancy;
- adopt a population-health perspective. The population-health model considers all the factors, such as economic status, education and physical environment, that influence a person's health;
- address lifestyle issues such as smoking, alcohol and substance use, and consider broader issues such as food safety;
- respond to new information such as the role of folic acid in the prevention of neural tube defects and the release of the Dietary Reference Intakes Reports, which contain updated recommendations on nutrient requirements;
- address in greater detail various dietary choices and eating patterns such as vegetarianism, dietary practices and beliefs of various cultural groups; and
- include practical advice, tips and suggestions.
A hard copy is available from Health Canada by phoning at 613-954-5995 or by faxing to 613-941-5366.
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