nutritional food during pregnancy provide guidance to mothers

1. Nutrition during
Pregnancy and Lactation

2. INTRODUCTION
• The tremendous growth of a baby from the moment of conception to the
time of birth depends entirely on nourishment from the mother.
• The complex process of rapid growth and lactation demands a significant
increase in nutrients from the mother,s diet.
• The health and wellness of a pregnant or lactating mother imparts a vital role
in the development of a healthy infant.

3. Nutritional Need In Pregnancy And Lactation
Basic nutrition needs;
 Energy needs
 Proteins
 Vitamins
 Minerals

4. Energy Need
• Prepregnancy weight
• Health status
• Activity level
Reasons For Energy Need
During second and third trimester of pregnancy, the mother needs more kilocalories for two
reasons;
 To supply the increased fuel demanded by metabolic workload for both the mother and foetus.
 To spare proteins for the added tissue building requirements.

5. Amount Of Energy Increase
• Energy needs of pregnant women remain the same during the first trimester
of pregnancy as their kilocalories needs before conception.
• There is an increased need of 340kcal/day during the second trimester and
approximately 452kcal/day during the third trimester, which is an increase of
15 to 20%.

6. Protein Needs
Reasons For Increased Need
Protein serves as the building block for the tremendous growth of body tissues during
pregnancy. Sufficient protein is required to meet the growth needs in the following
ways;
o Development of placenta
o Growth of the feotus
o Growth of maternal tissues Increased maternal blood volume
o Amniotic fluid

7. Development Of Placenta
A mature placenta requires sufficient protein for its complete development as a
vital and unique organ to sustain,support,and nourish the foetus.

8. Growth Of The Foetus
The increase in size from one cell to millions of cells in a 3.2kg infant in only 9
months indicates large amount of proteins that is required for such rapid
growth.

9. Growth Of Maternal Tissues
To support pregnancy and lactation, the increased development of uterine and
breast tissue is required.

10. Increased Maternal Blood Volume
The mother,s plasma volume increases by 40 to 50% during pregnancy. More
circulating blood is necessary to nourish the fetus and to support the increased
metabolic workload. However, with extra blood volume comes a need for the
increased synthesis of blood components, especially hemoglobin and albumin,
which are proteins that are vital to pregnancy.

11. Amniotic Fluid
Amniotic fluid, which contains various proteins, surrounds the fetus during
growth and guards it against shock or injury.
Amount Of Protein Increase
The protein DRI for nonpregnant women is 46g/day and the DRI for pregnant
women is 71g/day. This represents an increase of 25g/day more than the
average woman,s protein requirement.

12. Minerals Need
1) Teratogenic effects may develop as a result of a maternal diet that is
deficient in many of the minerals. E.g. Kestan disease, goiter, cretinism,
fetal growh restriction.
2) Calcium; A good supply of calcium along with phosphorous, magnesium,
and vitamin D is essential for the fetal development of bones and teeth as
well as for the mother,s own body needs. Calcium is also necessary for
blood clotting. A diet that includes at least 3 cups of milk or milk substitute
daily, generous amounts of green vegetables or whole grains usually
supplies enough calcium.

13. Cont…
3) Iron; Iron is essential for the increased hemoglobin synthesis that is
required for the greater maternal blood volume as well as for the baby,s
necessary prenatal storage of iron. The current DRIs recommended a daily
intake of iron 27mg/dayduring pregnancy, which is significantly more than
both a woman,s nonpregnant DRI of 18mg/dayand the current average intake.

14. Vitamin
The DRIs for pregnant women are slightly higher for most vitamins. As total
energy intake increases, so do the nutrients contained in the foods consumed.
1) Folate; Folate is important for both mother and fetus throughout
pregnancy. Tetrahydrofolic acid (TH4) participates in DNA synthesis, cell
division, and hemoglobin synthesis.
2) Vitamin D; Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may be associated with
adverse outcomes for both mother and fetus including preeclampsia,
gestational diabetes, preterm birth.