Health professionals push for free vitamins for all pregnant Australian women
We know how important a healthy diet and vitamins are for unborn babies, but many Australian women are missing out because they simply can't afford them.
Now there is a new campaign pressuring the Federal government to make supplements available to all mothers-to-be.
For Catherine Smale, vitamins have played an important role in her pregnancy.
She has taken supplements since the beginning, but it's not the same story for many Aussie women.
"Twenty-five per cent of doctors have reported patients who are not filling the scripts they need to because of affordability," McKell Institute's Sam Crosby said.
Those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds often can't fulfill dietary requirements, nor buy the vitamins they need.
"When you're trying to buy a cot, a pram, a crib, a car seat, everything else is a real impost," Mr Crosby said.
The McKell Institute has launched a campaign arguing that vitamins should be free for pregnant women who hold concession cards.
Some vitamins, such as folic acid, can make a huge difference.
"It definitely reduces your risk of spina bifida," obstetrician Rod Allen said.
"Vitamin D will make the woman's bones stronger, we know that."
The UK government already gives free vitamins to expecting women.
Babies born to mothers who are battling financially as 60 per cent more likely to be low or underweight at birth, which can also mean later in life they'll have health problems.
"It would definitely be a bonus if you could have free supplements for all pregnant women," Dr Allen said.
