Chapter 5 Flashcards
what are the environmental factors that can affect the quality of ones diet
- financial resources and availability
- transportation
- geographical location
- cultural preferences
- convenience
- knowledge of good nutrition
what are the implications for well-nourished children and youth
- more alert
- more attentive
- better able to benefit from physical activity
- better able to benefit from learning experiences
what are the implications for poorly nourished children
- prone to be quiet and withdrawn
- more likely to be hyperactive
- more likely to show disruptive behavior
- predisposed to accidental injury because they are less alert and have poorer response times
how long is the critical period in pregnancy
the critical period is the first three months of pregnancy
what is the critical period
the period during development in which certain events occur that will have irreversible effects on later developmental stages - it is a period of rapid cell division
what is the neural tube
the neural tube is the beginning structure of the brain and the spinal cord
what is one defect that is impacted considerably during the critical period
neural tube defects
what is the critical period for the development of neural tube defects
within 17-30 days of gestation
how often do neural tube defects occur
1 - 2 births in every 1000 births
what are the factors that increase the risk of neural tube defects
- maternal obesity
- low socioeconomic status
- race
- exposure to high temperatures
- low folate
what do pregnancies with neural tube defects end in
abortions or stillbirths
what are two major problems that may occur as the result of a neural tube defect
- anencephaly
- spina bifida
what is anencephaly
anencephaly is an uncommon and always fatal type of neural tube defect, it is characterized by the absence of a brain, the upper end of the neural tube fails to close and the brain is either missing or fails to develop
how do anencephaly pregnancies often end
they often end in miscarriage, and infants that are born with anencephaly die shortly after birth
what is spina bifida
spina bifida is one of the most common types of neural tube defects, characterized by the incomplete closure of the spinal cord and its bony encasement. the membranes covering the spinal cord often protrude as a sac, which may rupture and lead to meningitis
what are the results of spina bifida
the baby may be paralyzed below the level of the defect, depending on the extent of spinal cord damage, mild cases may not even be noticed but severe cases can lead to death
when should folate supplementation be taken
supplementation should be taken one month before conception and continued throughout the first trimester to reduce the risk of neural tube defects
what is the recommended daily dosage of folate supplementation
0.4 milligrams of folate is the recommended daily dosage for all women of childbearing age
when are the nutrient needs higher than any other time
during pregnancy and lactation (breastfeeding) the nutrient needs are higher than at any other times
why is energy important for a pregnant women
a pregnant women needs extra food energy, they need to take in 300 more kcalories above the allowance of nonpregnant women and only in the second and third trimesters
how much protein should pregnant women consume
10 grams per day higher than nonpregnant women
is there a concern in vegetarians who become pregnant
yes, vegetarians must increase their intake of protein-containing plant foods
can protein supplements be taken during pregnancy
protein supplements cannot be taken, they result in low birth-weights, preterm births and deaths
are essential fatty acids important for the growth of the pregnancy
some essential fatty acids are important for the growth of the fetus, especially foods that are high in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids
what is the brain largely made of
the brain is largely made of lipid fat material and depends on these essential fatty acids for its growth, function, and structure
why are proper intake of folate, vitamin B12, iron, and zinc important
proper intake of folate, vitamin B12, iron, and zinc are very important because of their role in the synthesis of DNA and in the expansion of the mother’s production of red blood cells
why do pregnant women need iron
pregnant women need iron to support their enlarged blood volume and to provide for prenatal and fetal needs
why does the developing fetus draw on maternal iron
the developing fetus draws on maternal iron stores to create stores of its own to last through the first four to six months after birth
what is the optimal interval between pregnancies
between 18 - 23 months
what happens to nutrient reserves after repeated pregnancies less than a year apart
nutrient reserves considerably deplete over time
what is one of the most common conditions that is likely to occur from any high risk pregnancy
low birth rate
what is low birth rate also associated with
low birth weight is also associated with teen pregnancies, smoking, and alcohol and drug use
when would many concerns for the newborn arise
in a high risk pregnancy where the mother has not received adequate nutrition, or consumed substances that are not compatible with pregnancy
what is a low birth weight
a birth rate of 5 1/2 pounds or less
what does a low birth weight indicate
it indicates probable poor health in the newborn and poor nutrition status in the mother during pregnancy
what is a normal birth weight for a full term baby
6 1/2 pounds to 8 1/2 pounds
what babies are more likely to experience complications during delivery
low birth rate babies
what are some physical and mental birth defects associated with low birth rate infants
- they contract diseases easier
- have a greater chance of death in early life
how is the relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and low birth weight
there is a strong relationship
what does low socioeconomic status impair
low socioeconomic status impairs fetal development by causing stress and by limiting access to medical care and nutritious foods
what are some practices incompatible with pregnancy
- use of alcohol
- medicinal drugs
- herbal supplements
- illicit drugs
- smoking
- exposure to environmental contaminants
- caffeine
- weight loss dieting
what is a teratogen
a drug or other substance capable of interfering with the development of a fetus, causing birth defects
what can alcohol consumption during pregnancy result in
alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause irreversible mental and physical impairment of the fetus, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) may result in one of the leading causes of mental impairment in newborns which is totally preventable
how does alcohol cross the placenta
alcohol crosses the placenta freely and deprives the developing fetal brain of both nutrients and oxygen
what do the symptoms of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
- prenatal and postnatal growth retardation
- impairment of the brain and nerves, with consequent mental impairment, poor coordination and hyperactivity
- abnormalities of the face and skull. including small head size, narrow receding forehead, short upturned nose with a flattened bridge, underdeveloped jaw, drooping eyelids, extra skin folds on the eyes, uneven placement of the ears, etc
use of medicinal drugs
drugs, even under prescription may cause complications during pregnancy, labor or serious birth defects
what are some examples of drugs that can complicate pregnancy
accutane and thalidomide
what do some women use herbal supplements for during pregnancy
- induce labor
- aid in digestion
- promote water loss
- support restful sleep
- fight depression
are herbal supplements safe for pregnancy
some herbs are safe but others are harmful
should pregnant women consult their physician before taking any medications
pregnant women should always consult their physician before taking any medications
should illicit drugs be avoided during pregnancy
illicit drugs such as cocaine and marijuana should be avoided during pregnancy
how do illicit drugs impair fetal growth and development
illicit drugs cross the placenta and impairs the fetal growth and development
what can drug use cause during pregnancy
- preterm births
- low birth weight infants
- perinatal deaths
- sudden infant deaths
what happens if the newborn survives illicit drug use
the central nervous system damage is evident
what are some symptoms of a newborn who’s mother used illicit drugs
- the infant may be addicted and go through withdrawal symptoms
- their cries, sleep and behavior even early on are abnormal
- they may be hypersensitive or under aroused
- cognitive development later in life is impaired
what does smoking during pregnancy result in
smoking restricts the blood supply to the growing fetus and so limits oxygen and nutrient delivery and waste removal, there is a positive relationship exists between SIDS and both smoking during pregnancy and postnatal exposure to smoke
what can smoking during pregnancy harm
smoking during pregnancy can harm the intellectual and behavioral development of the child later in life
environmental contaminants and pregnancy
pregnant women that have been exposed to environmental contaminant such as lead usually have children that show signs of impaired cognitive development
how does lead affect the fetus
lead moves across the placenta, inflicting severe damage on the developing fetal nervous system
how can caffeine affect pregnancy
moderate to heavy use of caffeine may increase the risk of spontaneous abortion
how should caffeine use be limited during pregnancy
caffeine limit should be limited to 1 cup of coffee or two 12 ounce cola beverages a day
how does caffeine affect the fetus
caffeine crosses the placenta and the developing fetus has a limited ability to metabolize it
is weight loss dieting hazardous during pregnancy
dieting, even for short periods, is hazardous during pregnancy
what can low carbohydrate diets or fasts that cause ketosis affect the fetus
they deprive the fetal brain of needed glucose and may impair cognitive development, they also lack the other nutrients that are vital to fetal growth
what happens during the first year of life
the first year of life is a time of phenomenal growth and development
what does the infant eat and drink during the infancy period
the infant only drinks breast milk or formula and then later begins to eat some food
what does the growth of the child reflect during the infancy period
growth of the child directly reflects nutrient intake and is an important parameter in assessing the nutrition status of infants and children
how do health care professionals measure growth
health care professionals use growth charts to measure growth
what are the nutritional needs that must be met during infancy
- carbohydrates
- protein
- vitamins and minerals
- water
why are carbohydrates important during infancy
carbohydrates are important for energy activity, it helps for infants weight gain, and body growth
why is protein important during infancy
protein is the single most important nutrient essential for growth, and is the building block for cell development
what is the amount of protein in infant formulas based on
the amount of protein in infant formulas is based on what is found in breast milk and is proven to support adequate growth in healthy full-term infants
what are vitamin and mineral recommendations based on during infancy
recommendations are based on the average of nutrients consumed by thriving infants breastfed by well-nourished mothers
how is water important in infancy
water is one of the most essential nutrients for infants
what are the benefits of breastfeeding
- correct balance of fat and protein
- ensures nutritional completeness
- helps ensure healthy physical growth
- protects against disease
- protects against faulty jaw and tooth development
- ensures digestibility
- smooths transition to solid foods
when are infants developmentally ready for others foods
by about 6 months
what are the signs of physiological and developmental readiness
- better head control
- ability to sit up and lean forward
- ability to let the caregiver know when they are full
- ability to pick up food and try to put it in their mouth
