FREE vitamins will soon be offered to all pregnant and breastfeeding women in Halton.

This pioneering programme aims to improve the health of new mums and babies.

Healthy start vitamins contain the recommended amount of vitamin A, C and D for young children, and folic acid and vitamin C and D for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Eileen O’Meara, director of public health in Halton, said : “In Halton, uptake of healthy start vitamins is low so in order to encourage families to access the vitamins and to improve the health of both mothers and children, Halton Council, with support from Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust, have introduced a new universal programme.”

All pregnant and breastfeeding women, regardless of their income, will be able to obtain free healthy start vitamins from their midwife.

This new scheme is being trialed for a year from August 1, 2014 Families will also receive a bottle of vitamins for their child from the health visitor, when they move on to solid foods at six months.

Vitamin A is used by the body to fight infection, and is also important for ensuring good vision in dim light.

Vitamin C boosts immunity and aids wound healing.

Vitamin D is essential for healthy teeth and bones and prevention of rickets. Vitamin D status in infants is determined by both exposure to sunlight and maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy.

Folic acid supplementation is recommended for all pregnant women, and can reduce the incidence of neural tube defects, including spina bifida. This means that adequate maternal vitamin intake during pregnancy is crucially important for infant health.

For more information on the national healthy start vitamin scheme, visit healthystart.nhs.uk.