Maternal and Infant Nutrition Flashcards
Which stage is the critical period of development?
Embryonic stage (2-8 weeks).
What are NTDs?
Neural tube defects - severe congenital malformations resulting from incomplete closure of neural tube.
Give 2 examples of neural tube defects
Ancephaly (incomplete closure of the upper end of neural tubes). Spina bifida (incomplete closure of the spinal cord)
What is used to protect against NTDs?
Folic acid (vitamin B).
What is exclusive breastfeeding?
No food or drink except breast milk (with the exception of vitamin supplements).
Which vitamin in high doses can increase the risk of malformations?
Vitamin A. There are two forms: retinol and B-carotene.
Define weaning?
Process of expanding diet to include food and drinks other than breast milk. Introduced around 6 months. Used due to a high nutritional requirement and because the fetus can bite/chew.
What is complementary feeding?
The process of giving food and liquids in addition to breast milk, which is no longer efficient to meet the needs of the infant.
What 3 things are found in breastmilk?
Cellular factors e.g. macrophages. Humoral factors e.g. immunoglobulins. Colostrum (initial milk of mammary gland).
Difference between infant formula and breastmilk.
Instant formula lack non-nutritional bioactive components. of breast milk.
Why is 700mg/day of calcium given during pregnancy?
It allows for the calcification of the fetal skeleton.
Why is 10 micrograms of vitamin D given per day to patients?
It prevents patients developing rickets.
