Nutritional assessment and diet during pregnancy, OBG

1. Nutritional assessment and
diet during pregnancy
Maryam Majid Al-Ezairej
OBSTERTICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
Collage of medicine, RAKMHSU

2. Nutritional needs
Pregnancy is a great physiologically stressful period, as the mother
not only has to nourish herself and her, but also her growing fetus.
Therefore the nutritional requirements is increased to:
• meet the increased basal metabolic rate, increased calories
and increased total energy requirements.
• To develop the maternal organs such as, placenta and breast
tissues.
• To supply and build up a healthy normal body of the growing
fetus.

3. Daily caloric needs
Calories increases during pregnancy to support the mother and to support
the proper growth and development of the fetus , the Recommended Daily
Intake (RDI) for energy intake is increased by 300 calories per day for the
2nd and 3rd trimester.
However, all the calories should be healthy calories containing:
 plenty of proteins.
 complex carbohydrates ( fruit, whole-grain starch and potates) which
considered as main energy source.
 Fibers
 Vitamins
 minerals

4. Weight gain during pregnancy
A weight gain of 11.2 to 15.9 kg (25 to 35 lbs.) is recommended during
pregnancy but for more precise calculation, the normal healthy weight
gain in pregnancy should be calculated according the Body Mass Index.
Where:
 Overweight women ( BMI>25 kg/m2) are advised to get 7 kgs.
 Normal women (BMI 18.5-25 kg/m2) are advised to get 10 kgs.
 Underweight women (BMI<18.5 kg/m2) are advised to get 14 kgs.

5. Specific requirements
There are specific set of nutrients which is highly required
during pregnancy more than any other nutrients such as:-
 Proteins
 Folic acid
 Calcium
 Iron
 Vitamin c
 Omega- 3

6. Essential nutrients
a) Folic Acid
 Which is very important to prevent neural tube defect like spina-bifida and
improve the birth weight.
 400 mg tablet of supplement is required daily for the first trimester.
 Green leaf vegetables are rich in folic acid.

7. Essential nutrients
b) Calcium
 RDA for calcium is 1 gram.
 Required for development of bones and teeth of the fetus.
 Decrease risk of HTN, low birth weight and chronic HTN in newborns.
 To keep the bones strong and healthy.
 To provide proper muscle contraction.
 Important for blood clotting.

8. Essential nutrients
c) Proteins
 Growth of fetus
 Development of placenta
 Increased blood volume
 Enlargement of maternal tissues.
 RDA 70 grams per day
 Source: lean meat and eggs.

9. Essential nutrients
d) omega- 3
 Development of CNS, brain growth and eye development.
 Found in fish oil.
 Reduce the risk of heart disease in infants.
 RDA 300 mg

10. Essential nutrients
e) Iron
 Fetal growth and enlargement of maternal tissue.
 To supply the increased RBC mass.
 To build up iron stores in the fetus liver
 RDA 30 mg

11. Essential nutrients
f) Vitamin C
 It increases iron absorption.
 Prevent preterm delivery
 RDA 60 mg

12.  ABSOLUTELY avoid smoking and driking alchols
 drink large amount of water to prevent constipation and to be
well hydrated.
 avoid raw fish and meat.
 avoid caffeine
 Maintain a balanced healthy diet to meet up the requirements of
nutrition.

13. Any questions ?
Thank you 