Nutrition in Pregnancy Flashcards
With regards to reproduction, what is the main risk of being underweight (BMI < 18.5)?
Why does this occur?
Reduced fertility
Being underweight causes hormone imbalances which affect ovulation
What are some factors which make people who are obese (BMI > 30) less likely to fall pregnant?
There are disturbances of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis which leads to menstrual cycle disturbance
More likely to be anovulatory
More likely to have PCOS
What are some risks to a female, with regards to reproduction, of being obese?
Decreased fertility
Increased risk of miscarriage
Increased risk of gestational diabetes
Increased risk of pre-eclampsia
What are some risks to the child that is born from an obese mother?
Increased risk of metabolic abnormalities and congenital anomalies
Increased risk of high birth weight and long-term obesity
Increased risk of diabetes
What are the two supplements which ideally, all mothers should be taking at points in pregnancy?
Describe when each should be used.
0.4mg (400mcg) of folic acid daily, from 3 months pre-conception to the 12th week of pregnancy
10mcg of vitamin D daily throughout pregnancy, and continue if breastfeeding
Which groups of people should be taking 5mg of folic acid during pregnancy instead of 0.4mg?
Obese
Diabetic
Epileptic
Previous child with or family history of neural tube defects
There is a myth in pregnancy about ‘eating for two’ - is this true?
No - you only need an extra 200 calories a day in the last 3 months of pregnancy
What are some risk factors for iron deficiency in pregnancy?
Being iron deficient in pregnancy increases the risk of what?
What is the management if a woman is very iron deficient in pregnancy?
What is the main side effect of this?
Young age at first pregnancy
Repeated pregnancies
Multiple pregnancies
Stillbirth
Iron supplementation - intermittent or daily
Unpleasant GI side effects
Which vitamin is usually teratogenic in high doses?
However, who should continue taking this supplement?
Vitamin A
Mothers with CF
The healthy heart scheme is available to who?
What vitamin supplements does this include?
What else does it include?
Pregnant women aged < 18 who are on benefits
400mcg folic acid, 10mcg vitamin D, 70mg vitamin C
Food vouchers
What are some foods which should be avoided in pregnancy?
Soft cheeses
Any undercooked meats/eggs
Tuna
Pate
Liver
Vitamin and fish oil supplements
If a woman is exclusively breastfeeding, what is the extra calorie deficit per day in the first 6 months post-partum?
How is this compensated for usually?
Breastfeeding requires more of which supplements?
It requires less of which supplements?
640kcal/day
Usually compensated for by fat stores during pregnancy, though in underweight women more calories will need to be consumed
Calcium and vitamin D
Iron
Obesity is classified as what?
Are these women expected to gain much weight in pregnancy?
BMI > 30
No, only around 5-9kg
In the management of gestational diabetes, which is it better to have more of - fruit or veg? Why?
What types of fruits should be avoided?
What are the rules regarding complex carbohydrates?
It is recommended to limit milk intake to how much?
Veg, because fruit contains natural sugars
Dried fruit or fruit juice (again more sugar)
Should have 30-50g per meal, at every meal time
150mls/day
When is colostrum produced?
This contains high levels of immune proteins - what is the purpose of this?
It also has a laxative effect - what is the purpose of this?
How much of this will the baby consume at each feed?
Mid-pregnancy through the first few days of life
Helps colonise the baby with normal bacteria
Helps the infant to pass meconium and reduce jaundice
Only a few millilitres
