Pregnancy Nutrition

Question 1

When pregnant, if craving chicken fat and skin what nutrient may you be requiring?

Answer 1

vitamin A

Question 2

When pregnant, if craving seafood what nutrient may you be requiring?

Answer 2

zinc

Question 3

When pregnant, if craving bananas what nutrient may you be requiring?

Answer 3

potassium and magnesium

Question 4

When pregnant, if craving sugar what nutrient may you be requiring?

Answer 4

chromium and B vitamins

Question 5

How much weight does baby account for?

Answer 5

1/3 of weight gain is the baby

Question 6

What is the normal weight gain range when pregnant? When mum is a healthy weight (18.5-24.9 BMI)

Answer 6

11-16.5kg

Question 7

Obese pregnant ladies & associated risks for the babies

Answer 7

• babies tend to be born later (42 weeks) and heavier than 4kg at birth.
• Increased risk of difficult labour/delivery, birth trauma & cesarean
• Higher risk of neural birth defects, heart defects, other abnormalities

Question 8

What is hypermesis gravidaram?

Answer 8

Hypermesis gravidarum is extreme morning sickness.

Question 9

How common is morning sickness and when is it experienced?

Answer 9

60-80% of women experience morning sickness, mainly weeks 2-6. Worst morning sickness is weeks 10-12 and most dies off by week 20

Question 10

Pregnancy creates a state of insulin resistance - true or false?

Answer 10

True, by 3rd trimester women secrete 2-2.5x more insulin. Increases the likelihood of gestational diabetes. This is a metabolic change.

Question 11

How common is constipation when pregnant?

Answer 11

11-33% of pregnant women get constipated. Possiby a result of iron supplements.

Question 12

GORD (reflux) how common and at which stage of pregnancy?

Answer 12

Very common in later pregnancy

Question 13

Ho much extra energy is required when pregnant?

Answer 13

Approx 10%, an extra 1040kJ/d.

Add an extra 630kJ/d to that if twins.

Question 14

Protein requirements

Answer 14

0. 6 g / kg normally

0. 80 - 0.82 g / kg if pregnant

Question 15

Is extra dietary fat required when pregnant?

Answer 15

Yes, more essential fatty acids required when pregnant for foetal development (eye and brain function)

Question 16

Deficiency of which mineral is associated with being the single greatest cause of preventable mental retardation in the world
Choose one answer.
	 a. Zinc	
	 b. Iodine	
	 c. Iron	
	 d. Folate

Answer 16

Iodine is associated with being the single greatest cause of preventable mental retardation in the world

Question 17

Which of these nutrients will reduce the risk of a baby developing a neural tube defect?
Choose one answer.
	 a. Folate	
	 b. Iodine	
	 c. Zinc	
	 d. Iron

Answer 17

Folate will reduce the risk of a baby developing a neural tube defect?
Folic acid is the supplement, folate found in broccoli, asparagus, spinach, bananas, oranges, strawberries, legumes, nuts, cereals, bread & vegemite (some fortified).
At least 23- months prior, 5mo ideally, continued throughout pregnancy.

Question 18

Why is zinc important when pregnant?

Answer 18

Zinc is important for tissue growth, cell replication, bone formation and skin integrity. The role of zinc in tissue growth is related primarily to its function in the regulation of protein synthesis, as well as the synthesis and catabolism of the nucleic acids
Demand for zinc increases particularly in the last trimester

Question 19

TRUE OR FALSE - During pregnancy there is improved absorption of most micronutrients and release of minerals from maternal stores to meet increased demands.

Answer 19

TRUE

Question 20

Why is vitamin A essential during pre conception and pregnancy?

Answer 20

Vitamin A is essential during pre-conception and pregnancy for normal gene expression, cellular differentiation, embryonic development and growth.

Question 21

Is calcium important

Answer 21

Yes calcium is important, in the last trimester 300mg of calcium is transferred to the foetus.

Question 22

Why is vitamin C important?

Answer 22

Vitamin C is essential for the formation of connective tissue - collagen.
Vitamin C maintains the integrity of blood vessels (used to prevent and treat varicose veins, haemmorhoids, broken capilliaries and bleeding gums associated with pregnancy).

Question 23

A breastfeeding woman requires how much additional energy each day for the first 6 months?
Choose one answer.
	 a. 500kJ/d Incorrect	
	 b. 1000kJ/d Incorrect	
	 c. 100kJ/d Incorrect	
	 d. 1400

Answer 23

1400kJ/d is required in additional energy, for the first 6 months of breast feeding. 1700kJ/d is required when feeding a 6-12 month old infant.

Question 24

The NHMRC recommendations for drinking alcohol while breastfeeding are:

Answer 24

Not drinking is the safest option

Question 25

On average, a lactating woman produces how many mL of breast milk each day?

Answer 25

750-800ml of milk per day is produces at eat of lactation

Question 26

Advantages for child when breastfeedin

Answer 26

immunoprotective, easy to digest, breast milk is living and dynamic (nutrient content changes constantly to meet needs of the child, depending on stage of development)

Question 27

Why shouldn’t a woman ovulate when breastfeeding?

Answer 27

Oxytocin is released. This hormone will inhibit the ovaries.

Question 28

What is the course of lactation?

Answer 28

First few days - colostrum
Day 3-7 - transitional milk
Day 14 onwards - mature milk (80% of carbs in breastmilk are lactose)

Question 29

Can coffee interfere with breastfeeding?

Answer 29

Yes caffeine can make the baby unsettled, irritable and wakeful.

Question 30

What is cretinism?

Answer 30

Caused by a maternal iodine deficiency during pregnancy, cretinism can cause mental and physical retardation. Cretinism it is a congenital condition.

Question 31

Why is iodine important to pregnancy?

Answer 31

Iodine is an important thyroid function which regulates metabolism. Iodine controls growth, development, temp control, nerve and muscle function, blood cell production. Iodine also helps control reproduction.