Chapter 16 & 17: Fetal & Infant Nutrition

Question 1

_____and_____ greatly determine an infant’s chance of survival.

Answer 1

length, weight

Question 2

Define infants that are full-term, pre-term, and small for gestational age. What problems may occur with infants that are pre-term?

Answer 2

full-term: 39-40 weeks, ~7.5+ lbs
pre-term: <37 weeks, <5.5 lbs

small for gestational age = weigh less than expected

problems with infants that are pre-term are medical problems & low birth weight

Question 3

Describe the prenatal development stages in chronological order. During what stage does the most does rapid growth occur?

Answer 3

1. gestational stage: sperm unites with egg & forms
   zygote (30hrs after conception)
2. embryonic stage: 2 weeks after conception, cells
   make 3 layers
   endoderm= becomes digestive system, liver,
   pancreas
   mesoderm= becomes skeleton, muscles, heart,
   blood vessels
   ectoderm= becomes skin, nervous system, sensory
   organs
3. fetal stage: known as fetus from week 9 to birth,
   longest stage, most rapid growth
   length= 20-22 in
   weight= 7-8 lbs
   body fat= increases to 16%

Question 4

What occurs during fetal development?

Answer 4

brain & spinal cord develop, other organs start to form, structures necessary to the formation of eyes & ears develop, etc…

Question 5

What are critical periods? When do they mostly occur?

Answer 5

the developmental process that occurs on a precise schedule, critical periods for cells to develop into particular structures

1st trimester= few extra kcals needed
2nd trimester= 350 kcal/day needed
3rd trimester= 450 kcal/day needed

Question 6

How do the embryo and fetus get nutrients from the mom? Why are the placenta and umbilical
cord important? What do they each do?

Question 7

Describe the nutrient needs of a pregnant woman. What if they are obese? What if they are an
active teenager?

Question 8

What is the infant at risk for if they do not consume enough calories? What if a mom is obese or
underweight?

Question 9

If a pregnant person has normal pre-pregnancy BMI, how much weight gain should be expected
during pregnancy?

Question 10

Describe the nutrients needed for building new cells. What are they important for? What if there is
a deficiency of that nutrient?

Question 11

Nutrient needs increase dramatically, but calorie needs increase by small amount. The mother’s
diet plan should be based off ______________.

Question 12

What is lactation? What is prolactin? When is the best time to initiate breastfeeding?

Question 13

What is the let-down reflex? Why is suckling important to lactation?

Question 14

What is colostrum? What does mature milk lack? How many kcals are in mature milk?

Question 15

Where do the nutrients from milk come from? What can a low intake of water lead to as far as
breastfeeding goes?

Question 16

What is the recommendation for how long mothers should breastfeed for?

Question 17

When is physical growth at its peak? What is the best indicator of a child’s nutritional status?

Question 18

When would you use BMI-for-age? Stature-for-age?

Question 19

What is failure to thrive the result of?

Question 20

How do energy, protein, and fat needs change as a child grows?

Question 21

Describe the difference between breastmilk and formula.

Answer 21

breastmilk =

formula =

Question 22

What is an alternative to breastmilk? What does it contain?

Answer 22

formula