Introducing Professor Mark Johnson, Our Founder and Leading Obstetrician

At Nurture we're committed to supporting women through every stage of pregnancy with the highest quality supplements, rooted in science and backed by expert knowledge. That's why we’re delighted to bring you insights from one of the most esteemed voices in maternal health, and founder of Nurture, Professor Mark Johnson. As a consultant obstetrician at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and professor of obstetrics at Imperial College London, Professor Johnson has dedicated his career to caring for mums-to-be. 

In this exclusive Q&A, Professor Johnson shares his expert opinion on the role of nutrition during pregnancy, the importance of key vitamins and minerals, and the science behind them. Whether you’re navigating pregnancy for the first time or are a mum looking to deepen your understanding for your next baby, this conversation provides valuable information to help you make decisions with confidence. 

Firstly, can you tell us about what your jobs involve?

As an obstetrician, I deliver babies for a living, which is a wonderful profession. Interestingly, in my youth, I wanted to be a GP in a small community, but somewhere along the way, I became passionate about obstetrics. Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else. In my role as a professor, I train PhD students (about 50 so far!) and junior doctors. One of the first things I tell my juniors is, "be kind to your patients, and they’ll be kind to you".

When you’re not delivering babies and training doctors, what do you get up to?

I have a few hobbies: I play golf, though not particularly well. I ski much better and enjoy kitesurfing, too.

You’re also the founder of a charity! Tell us a bit about that… 

I founded Borne in 2013 out of frustration when caring for women experiencing preterm labour - labour that begins before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Preterm birth is the leading cause of death and disability among children under five worldwide. Babies born before 30 weeks are especially at risk, facing lifelong disabilities or worse. Unfortunately, we still don’t fully understand why preterm labour happens, nor do we have a definitive way to stop it. Borne was created to find ways to prevent preterm labour and improve outcomes for these vulnerable babies.

And how does that link to Nurture? 

Nurture is a company I founded to give pregnant women what they need for a healthy pregnancy. Almost every pregnant woman I see is taking some kind of vitamin or fish oil supplement, but the truth is, not everyone needs the same vitamins or in the same amounts. With Nurture, we do a dietary assessment, in the form of a short food & lifestyle questionnaire, and then measure key nutrients through a simple, at-home blood test, checking for nutrients such as DHA (an essential fish oil), to tailor her supplements and ensure she’s getting the right levels - not too much, not too little.

What’s Nurture’s mission?

Nurture exists to transform maternity wellness. With personalised support and scientifically backed knowledge, we’re raising awareness about the benefits of DHA supplementation during pregnancy to help women make mindful choices that help nurture healthy pregnancies and babies.

Our dedication to reducing the risk of preterm pregnancies, neurodevelopmental issues and postnatal depression goes beyond scientific research and a one-size-fits-all approach. Each individual journey is nurtured with safe and simple at-home blood and vitals monitoring, supported with tailored, evidence-based supplement subscriptions created just for mum and baby.

Can you tell us about the importance of supplements during pregnancy?

One of the earliest examples of supplement importance is folic acid. Since the 1960s, folic acid has been prescribed to reduce the risk of neural tube defects in babies, like spina bifida. All pregnant women should take folic acid before conception and in early pregnancy to prevent these serious conditions. Beyond that, many women take supplements like fish oils, but it’s important to take the right kind of DHA to benefit the baby’s brain development and reduce risks of preterm birth.

You mentioned DHA. Why is that nutrient in particular so important?

DHA is essential for the development of the brain and eyes. It plays a key role in reducing the risk of neurodevelopmental delay in babies. We’ve also found that a woman’s brain shrinks during pregnancy, particularly in areas rich in DHA, though it regrows afterward. Whilst it’s still an ongoing area of research, we believe that supplementing with enough DHA could minimise brain shrinkage and potentially benefit maternal mental health.

And how common is DHA deficiency in pregnant women?

Our research found that about 60% of pregnant women are deficient in DHA at the start of pregnancy. Even when we supplement them with 600 mg of DHA daily, by the end of pregnancy, 50% are still deficient, which indicates that many women need more DHA to meet both their own and their baby’s demands. Without enough DHA, the mother's brain may suffer, as the baby will take what it needs for its own development.

Mark shared so many invaluable insights with us that we couldn’t squeeze them all into one article. So watch this space for the next instalment bringing you advice, guidance and support from a trusted maternal health expert.