Lifecycle nutrition: pregnancy & lactation Flashcards
why does pregnancy put increased nutritional demands on the mother?
to meet her own needs and provide for special needs of the fetus
what does nutrient and calorie supplies in pregnancy impact?
the final outcome and health of the offspring later in life
what are the three layers that the embryo cells are split into?
endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm
What is the endoderm?
will develop into the digestive system, liver, and pancreas
What is the mesoderm?
will develop into skeleton, muscles, heart, and blood vessels
What is the ectoderm?
will develop into skin, nervous system, and sensory organs
What is the placenta?
an organ through which nourishment flows to the fetus, oxygen and nutrients are delivered to the fetus while fetal waste products are being removed
when does 90% of all fetal growth occur?
in the last 20 weeks of gestation
What is the potential effect of a calorie deficiency?
growth retardation and low birth weight
What is the potential effect of excess calories?
high birth weight, complications during labor and delivery
What is the potential effect of a protein deficiency?
reduced head circumference; fewer cells than normal, impact particularly severe in the brain
what is the potential effect of an excess in protein?
if high consumption is coupled with low carb intake, may lower glucose availability and restrict energy available to the fetus
What is a potential effect of a vit. C deficiency?
premature birth
What is a potential effect of an excess vit C?
sudden drop in vit. C after birth and may cause vit. C deficiency symptoms
What is a potential effect of folate deficiency?
spontaneous abortion; fluid accumulation in the skull, leading to brain damage; growth retardation; premature birth; neural tube defects
What is a potential effect of excess folate?
may inhibit maternal absorption of other nutrients and hinders diagnosis of maternal vitamin B12 deficiency
What is a potential effect of vit. A deficiency?
premature birth, eye abnormalities & impaired vision; maternal death
What is a potential effect of an excess in vit. A?
birth defect that affect the nervous and cardio systems and facial deformities
What is a potential effect of vit. D deficiency?
low birth weight, rickets, lack of enamel on teeth
What is a potential of excess vit. D?
calcificaiton of soft tissues, such as the kidneys; mental retardation; growth retardation
What is a potential effect of calcium deficiency?
decreased bone density
What is a potential effect of an excess of calcium?
may hinder maternal absorption of minerals, such as iron and zinc
What is a potential effect of iron deficiency?
low birth weight, premature birth, increased risk of fetal or infant death
What is a potential effect of excess iron?
may hinder maternal absorption of minerals such as zinc and calcium
What is a potential effect of iodine deficiency?
cretinism
What is a potential effect of excess iodine?
thyroid disorders
What is a potential effect of zinc deficiency?
nervous system malformations; growth retardation; birth defects that affect the brain and bones
What is a potential effect of excess zinc?
may hinder maternal absorption of minerals, such as copper and iron
What is the neural tube?
tissue that develops into the brain and spinal cord
what is low birthweight?
<5.5 lb. at delivery
how many of low birthweights are premature?
2/3
What are the low birth weight risk factors?
multiple births; too little or too much weight gain; smoking; alcohol to excess; underweight before conception; age after menarche
if you have a low BMI how much weight should you gain during pregnancy?
28 to 40 pounds
if you have a normal BMI how much weight should you gain during pregnancy?
25 to 35 pounds
if you have a high BMI how much weight should you gain during pregnancy?
15 to 25 pounds
If you have an obese BMI how much weight should you gain during pregnancy?
15 (or more)
What are nutrition-related concerns when it comes to pregnancy?
supplements; pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH); exercise; gestational diabetes; alcohol; caffeine; cigarettes; other drugs; pica
What is pica
practice of eating non-food items
why is it suggested to use supplements during pregnancy?
RDAs increase anywhere from 10-100% and the caloric intake increases 15%
what happens with PIH?
impairs delivery of O2 and nutrients to the fetus (retarded growth, premature birth) and can escalate to pre-eclampsia and eclampsia
What is pre-eclampsia?
protein in the urine, headache, blurred vision, changes in blood clotting, edema, nervous system disorders
What is eclampsia?
maternal convulsions and coma; BP can climb so high that the kidneys and liver are damaged and both the mother and fetus may die; leading cause of maternal and newborn death in the US
What type of exercise is recommended during pregnancy?
low to moderate intensity exercise
Why is exercise important during pregnancy?
better cardio fxns, easier and less complicated labor, better mental state during pregnancy and infants are leaner and more neurologically matured
When does gestational diabetes occur?
between 20-28 weeks of pregnancy
what happens during gestational diabetes?
hormones synthesize by placenta decrease the efficiency of insulin and lead to a mild increase in blood glucose levels
What are the 3 developmental feeding periods that occur during the first 2 years?
nursing, transitional, and modified adult
what is the nursing feeding period?
birth to 6 months, dependence on milk feeding
What is the transitional period?
introducing complementary foods between 6-12 months
what are important considerations for the transitional feeding period?
ability to accept non-liquid foods without choking, development of neck stability, sitting and reaching
What is the modified adult feeding period?
in the second year toddlers consume a diet that resembles their families’ preferences
how many kcals does the production of 100 ml of milk require?
67 kcal
what are the nutrients in breast milk?
fatty acid spectrum, iodine and selenium, water soluble vitamins
What substances are secreted into the breast milk and are harmful for the baby even in small amounts?
alcohol, pesticides, and drugs
why are infants nutrient needs very high?
in relation to sized to support intense growth
When is the milk letdown reflex triggered?
by the infant suckling the mothers breasts
When is suckling the strongest?
in the first hour after birth
what are the milk letdown reflex hormones?
prolactin and oxytocin
what is prolactin?
a principal hormone that promotes milk production and that is released by pituitary gland. travels in the blood to milk producing glands in the breast and stimulates them to produce mil
what is oxytocin?
released by pituitary gland and causes muscle-like cells in the breast tissue to contract and release the milk from the lobules
what are advantages of breastfeeding for mothers?
always available; earlier recovery from pregnancy due to the action of hormones on the uterus; decreased risk of ovarian and premenopausal breast cancer; potential for quicker return to prepregnancy weight; potential for delayed ovulation; potential bone remineralizaiton to levels exceeding those before lactation; less postpartum bleeding
what is colostrum?
thin, yellowish, immature milk that may first time appear anytime from late pregnancy to several days after postpartum
what does colostrum contain?
lactobacillus bifidus factor and a laxative that helps the infant excrete the fecal matter that collected in the GI tract during fetal life
What does lactobacillus bifidus factor do?
encourages the growht of lactobacillus bifidus bacteria in the large intestine, which gives protection from growth of potentially toxic bacteria
