Page 72 - MHF-FeedingMinds-final.indd

3.2
Pregnancy
Summary
●● D●u ringSpurmegmnaarnycByu, tllheetemdaLtisetrnal diet must ●● Populations at risk of poor pregnancy
provide sufficient energy and nutrients to meet
the mother’s usual requirements as well as
those of the growing fetus and stores for use
during lactation.
●● A healthy balanced diet for pregnancy is based
on the five food groups with additional
supplements of folic acid and vitamin D.
●● Common nutrient deficiencies in UK women
prior to conception and during pregnancy
include iron, folate and vitamin D.
Introduction
The nutritional status of a woman during
pregnancy influences:
●● the growth and development of her fetus and
forms the foundations for her child’s later health
(Gluckman et al. 2005)
●● the mother’s own health, both in the short and
long term (NICE 2008a).
Poor nutrition during pregnancy has been linked to
an increased risk of having a baby with a low
birthweight. The link between low birthweight and
infant mortality remains strong and, if they survive,
low-birthweight babies suffer from higher rates of
childhood illness and conditions such as hearing
and visual impairment, neurodevelopmental delay
and behavioural disorders (Hack et al. 1995). Several
studies of school age children who had a low
birthweight have shown less well-developed
language and social skills, more behavioural and
outcomes due to inadequate nutritional status
and/or intake during pregnancy include
teenagers, women from low-income groups,
vegetarian and vegan women and under- or
overweight women.
●● More care needs to be taken with food hygiene
during pregnancy as fetal development can be
adversely affected by food-borne organisms
and pollutants.
attention span problems, and lower IQ, cognitive
ability and academic achievement (Dahl et al. 2006).
Poor rates of fetal and infant growth have also
been linked to higher rates of premature death
among adults and higher rates of cardiovascular
disease and other conditions such as diabetes and
high blood pressure (Barker 2008).
Healthy Eating for Pregnancy
Pregnant women require slightly higher amounts
of certain nutrients than non-pregnant women.
Most nutrients can be met by eating a balanced
nutritious diet based on the five food groups in the
‘eatwell plate’ shown in figure 1.2.1 (page 16). The
nutrients that will not be met even with a balanced
nutritious diet are folic acid and vitamin D. A
dietary supplement of both these is recommended
(Department of Health 1991, Scientific Advisory
Committee on Nutrition 2007, NICE 2008a,
2008b).