Pregnancy

Pregnancy
During the 1st month of
pregnancy, an organ called placenta
develops to provide an exchange of
nutrients and wastes between the
fetus and the mother and to secrete
the hormone necessary to maintain
pregnancy.
If a mother is not sufficiently
nourished during her early
pregnancy, the placenta will not
perform properly and the fetus will
not get optimal nourishment.
Nutrition During Pregnancy

 The nutritional status of woman before

and during pregnancy influences both the
mother’s and the baby’s health.
 Both pregnancy weight and weight gain
during pregnancy directly influence infant
birth weight.
 The newborn’s weight is the #1 indicator
of his or her future.
Low-birth-weight-baby. A newborn who
weigh less than 5-1/2 lbs. these infants are
at higher risk for disease.
To have healthy baby, pregnant
woman need to eat more kcal, but not a
whole lot more.
Pregnancy does increase kcal needs, but
only by an additional 340 kcal during the
2nd trimester and an additional 450 kcal
during the 3rd trimester.
2 Major Factors Influencing kcal
Requirements During Pregnancy.
1. Woman’s Activity Level

2. Basal Metabolic Rate

The BMR increases to support the
growth of the fetus .
What Nutrients Do Pregnant
Woman Needs?
1. Protein needs increase 25g. For
pregnant women.
2. Calcium, phosphorus and magnesium
are necessary for the proper development
of the skeleton and teeth.
1. Adequate amounts of calcium may help reduce
the incidence of pregnancy-induced
hypertension and edema
 The need for calcium ( 1000 mg ) can be met
by having at least 3 servings from the dairy group or
calcium-fortified foods each day.
Magnesium if found in green leafy vegetables,
nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains.
3. The need of folate increases 50% during
pregnancy.
Without enough folate, birth defects of the brain
and spinal cord, such as spina bifida ( parts of the
spinal cord are not properly fused, so gaps are
present ), can occur.
Lack of folate will increase the risk of preterm
delivery and low-birth-weights babies.
Folate can be found in green leafy vegetables,
beans, and enriched breads and cereals.
4. Vitamin B12 it works with folate to make
new cells. It is commonly found in animal
products, like meat and milk.

5. Iron also helps in formation of blood-it is

necessary for hemoglobin in both
maternal and fetal red blood cell.
Nutrition Health Factors for
Pregnant Women
1. Pregnancy during adolescence
2. Inadequate diets
3. Multiple birth
4. Use of cigarettes, alcohol or elicit drugs
5. Lactose intolerance
6. Underweight/overweight in time of conception
7. Gaining of too few/too many pounds during
pregnancy
8. Health conditions (diabetes, hypertension, HIV)
Menu Planning During
Pregnancy
Due to suppressed immune system, she is
more susceptible to infectious and toxic organisms in
foods such as meat, poultry, fish and eggs.
Dietary advice in the past concentrated on
small, carbo-rich meals, tea and crackers. However,
more-recent advice centers on eating whatever
foods you can keep down, even foods that are aren’t
terribly nutritious.
It is better to eat that food and keep it down
than to eat something that is not appealing and
throw it up.
Diet-related Concerns and
Solutions During Pregnancy
1. Constipation. It is due to relaxation of
gastrointestinal muscles.
• Solution: eat more high fiber foods, drinking more
fluids, and getting additional exercise.
2. Heartburn It is a painful burning sensation in
the esophagus caused by acidic stomach
contents flowing back into lower esophagus.
• Solution: eating small and frequent meal, eating
slowly and in a relaxed atmosphere. Avoiding
caffeine, wearing comfortable clothes, and not lying
down after eating.
3. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Alcohol and pregnancy don’t mix. During
pregnancy, alcohol crosses placenta, and high alcohol
levels can build up in the fetus.
 It can limit the amount of vital oxygen delivered
to the fetus, as well as slow growth cells. And
can produced abnormal cells.
• FAS children may show…
1. Signs of mental retardation
2. Growth retardation
3. Brain damage
4. Facial deformities
5. Newborn are generally small in
size and irritable
6. Impaired physical and mental
development
7. Problems gaining weight
4. Seafoods is also concern due to possible high
levels of methyl mercury and PBCs. Pregnant
and lactating women should not eat shark,
swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish.

5. Aspertame The fetus can’t detoxify caffeine,

and large amounts of caffeine may increase the
chance of miscarriage in early pregnancy and
increase the possibility of low-birth-weight
babies. During pregnancy, caffeine-containing
beverages should be limited to 2 cups a day.
Menu-Planning Guidelines
1. Offer a varied and balanced selection of
nutrient-dense foods.
2. In addition to traditional meat entrees, choose
entrees based on legumes and/or grains and
dairy products.
3. Be sure to offer dairy products made with skim
milk or low-fat milk.
4. Use a variety of whole-grain and enriched
breads, rolls, cereals, rice, pasta and other
grains.
5. Use assorted fruits and vegetables in all areas
of menus, including appetizers, salads, entrees,
side dishes, and desserts.
6. Be sure to have good sources of problem
nutrients: fiber, folate, vitamin D, iron, calcium,
magnesium, and zinc.
7. Be sure to use iodized salt.