Nutrition of the fetus begins at conception. Starting from before conception (probably several months before), throughout pregnancy, and after the baby is delivered, and for breastfeeding, the mother’s nutrition plays a key role.
An inadequate or excessive amount of nutrients may cause malformations or medical problems in the fetus. This deficiency can also cause neurological disorders and handicap them. Indulgence habits such as alcohol consumption, consuming large amounts of caffeine or nicotine can negatively and irreversibly affect the baby’s development, which happens in the early stages of the pregnancy cycle.
Consumption of caffeine during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy loss. There are benefits of fish consumption during pregnancy that outweigh the risks; however, the type of fish is essential. Folic acid is critical both in pre-and peri-conception.
Nutrition before pregnancy
- Folic acid supplementation is recommended before conception. It should be taken at least 0.4 mg/day throughout the first trimester of pregnancy, 0.6 mg/day through the pregnancy, and 0.5 mg/day while breastfeeding, in addition to eating foods rich in folic acid such as green leafy vegetables.
- Iodine levels are frequently low in pregnant women, and iodine is necessary for normal thyroid function and the fetus’s mental development, even cretinism. Pregnant women should take prenatal vitamins containing iodine.
- Vitamin D levels vary with exposure to sunlight. For this reason, there is a growing movement to recommend supplementation with 1000 IU of Vitamin D daily throughout pregnancy.
- Many pregnant women have been found to have low levels of vitamin B12.
- Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are beneficial for fetal development.
- Iron is needed for the fetus’s healthy growth and placenta, especially during the second and third trimesters. It is also essential before pregnancy for the production of hemoglobin. Iron supplementation reduces the risk of maternal anemia and iron deficiency in pregnancy.
Nutrition during pregnancy
- Vitamin and minerals are recommended during pregnancy and lactation.
- Multiple micronutrient supplements taken with iron and folic acid are beneficial for women.
- Undernourished women can benefit from having dietary education sessions and balanced energy and protein supplements.
- The balanced protein and energy supplement lowered the risk of stillbirth and small babies and increased weight gain for both the mother and baby.
- Prenatal vitamins typically contain increased amounts of folic acid, iodine, iron, vitamin A, vitamin D, zinc, and calcium over the amounts found in standard multi-vitamins. Zinc supplements help reduce preterm births.
- A mother’s nutritional intake during pregnancy is believed to influence and possibly offer protective effects against the development of allergenic diseases and asthma in children.
- Maternal intake of vitamin D, vitamin E, and zinc have all been associated with a lower likelihood of wheezing in childhood, suggesting a protective effect.
- Maternal intake of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids has been associated with a reduced risk of developing eczema in childhood and a reduced likelihood of infants exhibiting sensitivity to foods in the first year of life.
Role of Vitamins
- Folic acid:
-Folic acid, the synthetic form of vitamin folate, is critical in pre-and peri-conception [the period extending from three months before to three months after conception]. Deficiencies in folic acid may cause neural tube defects.
- Vitamins C and E:
-The combination of vitamin E and vitamin C supplemented to pregnant women does not appear to be efficacious for reducing the risk of stillbirth, neonatal death, preterm birth, preeclampsia, or any other maternal or infant outcomes, either in healthy women or those considered at risk for pregnancy complications.
- Vitamin B12:
-For vitamin B12, low maternal vitamin B12 is defined as serum concentration less than increases the risk of miscarriage, newborn low birth weight, and preterm birth.
-During pregnancy, the placenta concentrates B12 so that newborn infants have a higher serum concentration than their mothers.
-What the mother-to-be consumes during the pregnancy is more important than her liver tissue stores, as it is recently absorbed vitamin content that more effectively reaches the placenta.
-Women who consume a small percentage of their diet from animal-sourced foods or consume a vegetarian or vegan diet are at higher risk than those consuming higher amounts of animal-sourced foods and soon vitamin-depleted during pregnancy.
-This could lead to anemia and also an increased risk that their breastfed infants become vitamin deficient.
- Fish and omega-3 fatty acids:
-Fish consumption during pregnancy is encouraged and is considered necessary for fetal neurodevelopment.
-Additionally, fish are good sources of vitamins A, D, and B12 and the mineral iodine.
Food safety:
- Pregnant women are advised to pay attention to the foods they eat during pregnancy to reduce the risk of exposure to substances or bacteria that may be harmful to the developing fetus.
- Intake of large amounts of retinol has been linked to congenital disabilities and abnormalities.
Water:
- During pregnancy, a woman’s mass increases by about 12 kg.
- An increase of 300 mL per day is recommended compared to the regular intake for non-pregnant women, taking the total adequate water intake (from food and fluids) to 2,300 mL, or approximately 1,850 mL/ day from fluids alone.
Caffeine:
- Caffeine consumption during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy loss and an increased risk of low birth weight.
Alcohol:
- Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy.
- The most severe form of the condition is known as fetal alcohol syndrome. Problems may include an abnormal appearance, short height, low body weight, small head size, poor coordination, low intelligence, behavior problems, hearing loss, and vision problems.
- Fetal alcohol syndrome usually occurs when a pregnant woman has more than four drinks per day.
Nutrition after pregnancy
- Proper nutrition is essential after delivery to help the mother recover.
- Proper nutrition is required to provide enough food, energy, and nutrients for a woman to breastfeed her child.
- Women having less serum ferritin may need iron supplements to prevent iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy and postpartum.
- During lactation, water intake may need to be increased. Human milk is made of 88% water, and it is recommended that breastfeeding women increase their water intake by about 300 mL/day to a total volume of 3000 mL/day (from food and drink); approximately 2,400 mL/day from fluids.
