Pregnancy

Question 1

How to prepare for pregnancy

Answer 1

Healthy eating habits

Make sure organs are healthy

Question 2

Placenta

Answer 2

Supply depot and waste removal organ
Two bloods (mother’s blood/placenta blood) never mix
Metabolically active organ

Question 3

Events

Answer 3

Zygote: fertilized ovum
Fertilization –> 2 weeks –> implantation
Gestation = 40 weeks (trimesters)

Question 4

Increased need for nutrients

Answer 4

Energy: vary with progression of pregnancy
Protein: +50%
Carbohydrates: +25 - 50%
Folate: needs increase to avoid neural tube defects
Vitamin D: prevent rickets
Iron supplements to enhance absorption
NO zinc supplementation

Question 5

Calcium needs

Answer 5

Absorption doubles during pregnancy

Recommendations aimed at preserving maternal bone mass

Question 6

Food assistance programs

Answer 6

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

• nutritious foods and education
• referrals to health/social services

Question 7

Weight

Answer 7

Must gain weight during pregnancy (but nearly all lean tissue if ideal)
25 - 35 pounds if at healthy weight, 11-20 pounds if obese

Question 8

Weight gain

Answer 8

Placenta
Increase in blood supply to placenta
Infant (weighs 7.5 pounds)
Increase in size of uterus/supporting muscles
Necessary fat stores

Question 9

Physical activity

Answer 9

NON jarring/shocking movements (jogging)

Activities that prevent dehydration/high internal temperature

Question 10

Teen pregnancies

Answer 10

Special case of intense nutrient needs
Frequent deficiencies (less likely to receive prenatal care, more likely to smoke, more likely to try and conceal weight gain)

Question 11

Cravings and aversions

Answer 11

Common, but do not reflect physiological needs
Pica: chewing ice, associated with iron deficiency
Morning sickness = hormones

Question 12

Cautions

Answer 12

Smoking: damage to fetal DNA –> developmental defects/diseases, birth complications, risk of SIDS

Medicinal drugs/herbal supplements

Drugs of abuse: cross the placenta

Environmental contaminants: lead, mercury (fish)

Question 13

Dietary cautions

Answer 13

Foodborne illness: listeriosis –> miscarriage/stillbirth (raw milk/soft cheeses)

Vitamin/mineral megadoses (Vitamin A)

Dieting
Sugar substitutes
Caffeine

Question 14

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Answer 14

Occurs in babies whose mothers drank alcohol during pregnancy

• small heads
• narrow foreheads
• flattened/upturned nose
• underdeveloped jaw
• extra skin folds on eyelids/small eyes/wandering eyes
• uneven/backward ears
• no upper lip groove

Question 15

Diabetes

Answer 15

Gestational diabetes can develop during pregnancy –> risk later in life
Increased odds of surgical birth/high infant birthweight

Question 16

Preeclampsia

Answer 16

High blood pressure and protein in urine
Occurs: genetic/first mothers/mothers with hypertension

Advances to eclampsia

Question 17

First foods for infant

Answer 17

Nutrient needs: iron/Vitamin C
Physical readiness: ability to swallow
Allergic reactions: introduce single ingredient foods one at a time

Avoid nursing bottle syndrome (sugar in bottle)

Question 18

Childhood obesity

Answer 18

Problems with blood lipid levels, hypertension, cardiorespiratory fitness, asthma
Beginning of atherosclerosis