Nutrition help for low-income mothers

The advice on nutrition for pregnant women and babies from the National Institute for Health and Clincial Excellence (Nice) said health workers should also be trained on the importance of vitamin D for mothers-to-be.

Other recommendations included midwives, GPs and obstetricians to assess women's eating habits early in pregnancy and for maternity services to provide local breastfeeding peer support programmes.

Nice also said daycare services should offer healthier choices at mealtimes, and health workers should promote the Healthy Start Scheme, which gives pregnant women vouchers for healthy food.

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) praised the guidance for its focus on national consistency in support, while addressing nutritional disparities for low-income mothers.

Janet Fyle, professional policy officer at RCM, said: "We commend the guidance that health professionals should use appropriate opportunities to advise women to take folic acid supplements before conception."

Gillian Leng, deputy chief executive of Nice, said: "Ensuring children eat healthily in early years is very important for development and can modify the risk of chronic illness later in life. Unfortunately, not all women are getting the support they need, and this guidance aims to redress the balance so all women can give their child the best start."

Lisa Miles, senior nutrition scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation, said: "It is important for health professionals to be well informed on issues relevant to mothers and infants. The guidance takes important measures to address this. It is particularly important to target those people at risk of vitamin D deficiency because of inadequate exposure to sunshine."

David Munday, professional officer at health visitors' union Unite/CPHVA, said the guidance helped to reinforce the importance of health visitors and recognised the value the role brings to the public health agenda.