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Mercy ob/gyn Dr. Erika Nichelson

Research Reveals That Babies Born Of Pregnant Women Taking DHA Have Fewer Colds

Research shows that prenatal vitamins with DHA in them are good for pregnant women and their babies.

Mercy Medical Center's ob/gyn Dr. Erika Nichelson advises her patients to take vitamins with DHA.

"We know it helps with brain and eye growth in utero, but now new research says it helps decrease colds in new babies up to 1 month and decreases duration of symptoms in babies up to 6 months. That is huge," Dr. Nichelson said.

Mandy Collins' first child, Ethan, just started walking, so she was well acquainted with prenatal vitamins. She picked a vitamin with DHA in it, as advised by Dr. Nichelson.

Collins said she thinks DHA has made a difference for her son.

"I knew from books I had been reading that it was good for brain development, and it was supposed to help with colds and -- knock on wood -- we've never had one," she said.

Ethan got DHA from conception throughout pregnancy and during nine months of breastfeeding.

"I'm a true believer in DHA. Ethan hasn't been sick in a year," she said.

To view Dr. Nichelson’s interview with WBAL-TV11 online, click this link: http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/29373229/detail.html