Low blood Phe for a healthy newborn

You want the best for your baby – the best possible chance to grow up happy and healthy. If you have PKU, you need to take action right away to give your baby a good start in life.

High blood Phe during pregnancy causes serious problems

A mother's high Phe during pregnancy is bad for the baby's growing brain. It can cause serious defects. High Phe raises the risk of mental retardation to over 90%. High Phe also raises the risk that the baby will have a very small head or facial deformities. Other problems, like heart disease, can happen too.¹³

With Phe under control, you can have a healthy, happy baby

To protect an unborn baby's brain, women with PKU need to get Phe under control before they get pregnant. If you are already pregnant, get your Phe low right now.

The earlier in the pregnancy you control Phe, the better for the baby.¹³

The lower you get Phe during the pregnancy, the better it is for the baby.¹³

Remember:

• Sooner is better
• Lower is better*

* Lower is better until you get Phe into the normal range of 1-2 mg/dL. Going lower than 1-2 mg/dL can be unhealthy. Talk with your doctor about the right target range for you.^1,2

Next: Frequently asked questions about PKU