W4 - Nutrition - Pregnancy, Baby, Early Age & Children Flashcards
How does a zygote nourish itself?
By absorbing secretions from glands in the uterus + digesting some of the uterine lining.
What happens as a zygote develops into an embryo?
Placenta begins to form inside the mother’s uterus.
Placenta then takes over the role of delivering nourishment.
What can the placenta synthesise?
FAs
Cholesterol
Glycogen
What does the placenta’s size + ability to support optimal fetal growth depend on?
Mother’s nutritional status
What condition is the placenta normally in for poorly nourished women?
Smaller
W/ fewer bv
Smaller cells
What does it mean if the placenta is smaller than normal?
The area of contact between mother + fetus is reduced which ⬇️ placentas capacity to deliver nutrients + remove wastes.
Why does a pregnant woman need more energy?
Support growth of her own tissues as well as those of the fetus.
Also to fuel the extra metabolic workload pregnancy puts on a woman’s heart, lungs + other organs.
What energy increases are recommended for pregnant women?
3rd trimester = daily ⬆️ of ~200 kcal/day
= May be more if the woman is quite physically active.
What is the average weight gain during pregnancy?
10-12kg
What are the risks to infants being born small?
Higher risk of developing heart disease, high blood cholesterol levels + high bp
What is the primary regulator of energy use in the body?
Thyroid hormone
What do pregnant women need to do to ensure adequate production of the thyroid hormone to regulate energy use during pregnancy?
To consume sufficient amounts of iodine.
- Can be met using iodised salt.
What are the protein intake recommendations for pregnant women?
More than 50% above those for non pregnant women.
Vegan/Veg mothers may have to ⬆️ further due to the red. bioavailability of plant protein comp to animal protein.
Why are essential FAs req in pregnancy for the fetus?
For normal fetal growth + development, esp for the brain + eyes.
What can sufficient intakes of omega-3 FA do for a pregnant woman?
May improve gestation duration + infant birth weight, length + head circumference.
What are folate + Vitamin B-12 critical for during pregnancy?
For the synthesis of DNA + fetal + maternal cells.
RBC formation (req. folate) ⬆️ during pregnancy.
What happens during pregnancy when folate intake is insufficient?
Fewer RBCs are synthesised
= Folate-related anaemia.
Insufficient folate intake may also cause premature birth, LBW + spontaneous abortion.
Which pregnant women are more likely to need a Vitamin B12 supplement?
Vegan women
Why do iron needs rise significantly during pregnancy?
Due to ⬆️ no. of maternal RBC + accumulating fetal iron stores.
Iron stored prior to pregnancy can supply some of the extra iron however most women enter pregnancy w/ poor iron stores.
What happens to maternal absorption of iron when woman becomes pregnant?
⬆️ up to 3 times + mineral is conserved due to menstruation stopping during pregnancy.
But still the need can be difficult to meet.
What might pregnant women need to also do if they take an iron supplement?
May also need to take zinc + copper supplements due to iron interfering with their absorption + utilisation
Potential negative effects to pregnant woman taking iron supplements
⬇️ appetite
Nausea
Constipation
= Taking iron between meals or before going to bed can ⬇️ these problems.
What can help boost iron absorption?
Eating foods rich in vitamin C
What can pregnant women in an iron deficiency aneamia state also experience?
Preeclampsia
Labour + delivery complications
⬆️ risk of death
Explain the normal change occurring during pregnancy called the anaemia of pregnancy
When pregnant:
No. of maternal RBC ⬆️ 20-30%
Plasma expands 50%.
== Creating a lower RBC:Total blood vol
== Hemodilution
(NO danger to health of mother or fetus)
Nutrients needed for bone + tooth development of the fetus
Lots of Vitamin D, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium + Fluoride.
How much calcium does a full-term fetus store?
~30,000 mg
Nutrients needed for bone + tooth development of the fetus
Calcium in particular is one of these but why doesn’t the recommended intake to the mother rise during pregnancy?
Because in early pregnancy the mothers body adjusts to absorb Ca2+ in a much more efficient way:
- Ca2+ is stockpiled in mothers bones (ready for late pregnancy + lactation).
Nutrients needed for bone + tooth development of the fetus
What may insufficient vitamin D intake by the mother cause to her and the fetus?
Mother - Osteomalacia
Fetus - Rickets, LBW, lack of enamel on teeth.
Which type of pregnant women are at risk of consuming insufficient Calcium?
Vegans
Pregnant Teens
Those at risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension
Those who don’t consume dairy products
What should pregnant women do whose intake of Vitamin D is insufficient?
They should choose foods fortified w/ calcium + vitamin D
Effect of a deficiency in calcium to the fetus
⬇️ bone density
Effect of a deficiency in iron to the fetus
LBW
Premature birth
⬆️ Risk of fetal or infant death
Effect of a deficiency in iodine to the fetus
Cretinism (mental + physical growth retardation)
Effect of a deficiency in zinc to the fetus
NS malformation
Growth Retardation
Birth defects affecting brain + bones
What are the prenatal development stages?
Conception
Zygotic
Embryonic
Fetal
Maternal factors influencing immune system in early life
Gut microbiota
Vaginal infection
Periodontitis
Postnatal factors influencing immune system in early life
Antibiotics
Breast feeding
Host genetics
Env
Effect of a deficiency in vitamin A to the fetus
Premature birth
Eye abnormalities + impaired vision
Effect of a deficiency in folate to the fetus
Spontaneous abortion
Fluid accumulation in skull –> brain damage
Neural tube defects - if tube doesn’t fully close = cond. called Spina Bifida in which baby will be born w/ an exposed spinal cord
Premature birth
Effect of a deficiency in calories to the fetus
Growth retardation
LBW
Effect of a deficiency in protein to the fetus
⬇️ head circumference
Effect of a deficiency in Vitamin C to the fetus
Premature birth
Effect of an excess in calories to the fetus
High birth weight
Effect of an excess in calories to the mother
Labour + delivery complications
Effect of an excess in protein to the fetus
If coupled w/ low CHO intake it lowers glucose available to the fetus.
Effect of an excess in Vitamin c to the fetus
Sudden drop after brith can cause a deficiency
Effect of an excess in vitamin A to the fetus
NS + CV system birth defects
Facial deformation
Effect of an excess in vitamin D to the fetus
Calcification of soft tissues
Mental + growth retardation
Effect of an excess in iodine to the fetus
Thyroid disorder
How does gestational diabetes come about?
Hormones synthesised by the placenta ⬇️ the efficiency of insulin + lead to a small ⬆️ in blood glucose.
An excessive rise can lead to the gestational diabetes.
Foodborne Pathogens & pregnancy
Risk of foodborns illness - Listeriosis, ⬆️ during pregnancy = preg women should avoid raw veg, raw or undercooked meat + fish + unpasteurised milk.
What can listeriosis do to pregnant women?
Cause spontaneous abortion
Premature delivery
Infections in the newborn
Growing of the baby is going to rearrange the mothers GI tract, what can this cause?
Nausea
Gastric burn
Constipation
How does constipation come about in pregnant women?
Hormones relax intestinal muscles = slows digestion = ⬆️ nutrient absorption.
Slowing of digestion also causes more H20 than normal to be reabsorbed = hard + dry stools.
Also, iron supplements may cause these types of stools.
How can Edema come about in pregnant women?
Placental hormones cause body tissues to retain fluid during pregnancy.
Bvol also ⬆️ during pregnant.
= Extra fluid normally causes some swelling (Edema).
+ Enlarging uterus compresses bv in legs which slows down blood circulation + removal of waste products (incl H20). = Edema in lower legs.
When might Edema be a cause of concern in the lower legs for pregnant women?
When accompanied by:
- High bp
- Protein in urine
- Failure of edema to subside when she elevates her feet
List some key nutrients that pregnant women really require
Protein
Omega-3 FA
Folic acid
Zinc
B12
Iron
Benefits of breastfeeding to the MOTHER
Can help return to original weight - uses ~500kcal/day + due to the loss of pregnancy-associated adipose tissue
Form of anti-conceptive
⬇️ risk of developing arthritis, CVD, breast + ovarian cancer
Free
Fosters psychological mother-infant bonding
Easier to reg food intake for the baby
Name the principal hormone promoting milk production
Prolactin
What is the manufacture + secretion of prolactin stimulates by?
Birth of baby
Suckling by baby
How does suckling from the baby stimulate secretion of prolactin?
Baby suckles on breast –> nerve signals stimulate pituitary gland in brain to release the prolactin.
Prolactin travels in blood to milk-prod glands in breast = stimulating them to synthesise milk.
What is the let-down reflex?
Reflex stimulated by infant sucking to cause release of milk from milk ducts in mothers breast.
How can the let-down reflex be inhibited?
Nervous tension
Lack of confidence
Fatigue
Consideration for breastfeeding women
Not always a straight forward process
Can be difficult + sleep loss
Not possible if mother has to work or has low milk prod
Those w/ postpartum depression may not be inclined to breastfeed
Cultural barriers/beliefs
Why is it very important that a breastfeeding mother stays optimally hydrated?
H20 is main component of human milk
Inadequate H20 intake can alter her milk composition, ⬇️ vol of milk produced + lead to maternal dehydration.
How much should a breastfeeding mother increase her calorie intake for the 0-6 month period?
~350kcal/day
Food choices during lactation
They should consume sufficient amounts of Omega-3 FAs as they’re secreted into breast milk + important in the development of the infants NS.
