42% of Irish mums-to-be prefer to seek pregnancy advice online rather than visiting their GP

according to new Pregnacare survey

• 44% of mums said they were totally unprepared for the worry that pregnancy would cause

• Whilst 94% of Irish mums were aware of the importance of taking folic acid when trying for a baby, almost 60% were unaware of the recommended daily intake of folic acid (400µg)

• 76% said feeling the baby kick was the most enjoyable part of pregnancy

• Old wives tales still commonly shared with pregnant women – cabbage leaves can ease swollen ankles while heartburn means your baby will have lots of hair!

• TV personality Lucy Kennedy announced as face of Pregnacare’s new ‘What I Wish I’d Known’ campaign

42% of all expectant mums turn to online parenting websites and forums first when seeking pregnancy-related advice, according to a new survey by Pregnacare, Ireland’s number 1 pregnancy supplement*. Only one in four mums-to-be seek professional advice from their GP, with the same number turning to their partner or families for advice.

Pregnancy is a special, exciting time for many but the experience can also be fraught with worry for women as their bodies and hormones change as the baby grows. In fact, 44% of those surveyed said that looking back, they were totally unprepared for the worry they felt, with 28% saying that if they were to become pregnant again, they would try and worry less.

Pregnacare commissioned the survey* as part of their new ‘What I Wish I’d Known’ campaign and the online poll was completed by over 2,200 respondents. The survey has helped Pregnacare uncover the true story of pregnancy in Ireland and what first time mums-to-be wish they had known before they became pregnant.

For many women, the most surprising part of pregnancy was the changes to their bodies, with 80% of respondents reporting that they experienced sickness, insomnia and pain as well as constant bathroom breaks. However it’s not all negative, with three quarters of women reporting that feeling the baby kick (76%) was the most enjoyable part of their pregnancy.

It is well noted that folic acid is one of the most important supplements for expectant mums to take and this message seems to have been received by Irish women. 94% of those surveyed were aware of the need to take folic acid before becoming pregnant and during the first 3 months of pregnancy, and 82% of respondents said they understood that folic acid plays a key role in preventing neural tube defects. What is worrying is that almost 60% of those surveyed were unaware of the recommended daily intake of folic acid of 400µg.

While 53% of respondents managed to maintain a healthy diet throughout their pregnancy, 40% of mothers-to-be said they had to avoid certain food groups due to illness. As a lack of dietary nutrients can impact on the health and wellbeing of the unborn child, multi-vitamin supplements such as Pregnacare are an ideal way of making sure that mum and baby have all their nutritional needs met.

68% of women say they took a multi-vitamin supplement throughout their entire pregnancy.

There are so many costs associated with a new baby that it can difficult for many people to budget for everything that is needed and the costs can ramp up quickly and unexpectedly. Over a third of those surveyed spent between €1,000 and €2,000 preparing for the arrival of their little one, with a quarter of those surveyed spending over €2,000.

Pregnacare are delighted to reveal Lucy Kennedy as their Brand Ambassador for the campaign. Lucy is expecting her third child later this year and in our survey, the baby was voted the ‘Most Anticipated Celebrity Baby of 2016’. Pippa O’Connor was chosen as Ireland’s favourite celebrity mum, with almost a third of people choosing Brian O’Driscoll as the country’s favourite celebrity dad with 31% of the vote.

When Pregnacare asked expectant mums what piece of advice they had heard most often, one clear message stood out – enjoy some me time and get as much rest as possible before the baby arrives!

Pregnacare believes in supporting women before, during and after their pregnancies and are trying to dispel some of the myths surrounding having a baby. According to the survey, some of the most common pieces of advice include old wives tales such as:
• If you have morning sickness, it’s a girl
• Heartburn means the baby has lots of hair
• Don’t raise your arms over your head

Some of the more bizarre pieces of advice included:
• Use cabbage leaves to ease swollen ankles
• Stay away from graveyards while pregnant
• Eat lots of bananas
• Don’t scratch your bump when it’s itchy as you’ll get stretch marks
• If you want a boy, don’t eat bread. If you want a girl, don’t cut your fingernails
Lucy Kennedy says:
“I’m thrilled to be involved in the Pregnacare ‘What I Wish I’d Known’ campaign. I’m currently pregnant with my third baby and it’s amazing the knowledge I’ve gained from my first two pregnancies, but I still don’t know everything.
I understand pregnancy can be a really worrying time for mums to be, especially if this is your first baby – that’s why I love the idea of the ‘What I Wish I’d Known’ campaign so much. It’s giving mums to opportunity to help others and share advice about what’s really important when you’re having a baby, from nutrition and keeping yourself well when you’re expecting, to the right equipment and how to choose baby names!
I was also delighted to hear that our new arrival has been named ‘Most Anticipated Celebrity Baby 2016’ in the Pregnacare ‘What I Wish I’d Known’ survey. It’s lovely to hear that people are looking forward to the baby as much as we are!”

*Survey was undertaken by EUMon in August 2016 on behalf of Pregnacare and had 2,208 respondents

www.pregnacare.ie
Follow us on Twitter @pregnacare_irl
Winner of Best Maternity Supplement at the Mums and Tots Awards, 2016