Pregnancy and proper nutrition
The development of a baby’s brain, birth
weight, and congenital disabilities depends on the woman’s health during
pregnancy. A pregnant woman needs to adopt healthy practices to avoid
complications during the pregnancy period by doing regular exercises, eating a
nutritious diet, and accessing prenatal care. A nutritious diet also benefits
the expectant woman by reducing morning sickness, fatigue, and the risk of
becoming anemic. Research shows that women, both pregnant and unpregnant,
require a well-balanced diet that has at least 2000 to 2800 calories daily.
Pregnant women need to add more folic acid, iron, and calcium their diets to
prevent birth defects, and ensure the healthy development of the fetus
(Lightfoot et al., n.d.). Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Women are often worried about weight gain
during pregnancy, but this is not an issue if the diet is well balanced. A
balanced diet should contain folic acid, vitamin C, calcium, iron, fruits and
vegetables, protein, whole grains, and adequate fat.
Nutrition during pregnancy affects the
formation of the fetus’s brain, which determines the development of
socio-emotional, cognitive, and motor skills that are valuable in life. Women
should consume a nutrient-rich diet before getting
pregnant. However, national-wide research done in the US revealed than nonpregnant
women consume less folic acid than the recommended amount (Lightfoot et al.,
n.d.). The deficiency of iron in a pregnant woman’s diet negatively affects the
fetus’s cognitive function. Iron is a fundamental constituent of enzymes that
are used in functions such as catabolism and synthesis of neurotransmitters,
oxidation-reduction reactions, and the production of myelin. Proper functioning
of the enzymes is key to the development of cognitive function (Nurliyana et
al., 2016). An undernourished fetus has a smaller brain because the body
reduces the production of brain supporting cells called glia, myelination, and
dendritic growth. Such children experience lasting deficiencies in cognitive
and behavioral functions such as poor academic performance, low IQ, slow
language, and poor motor skills.
The nutrition of a pregnant woman affects the
long-term development of tissue structure and functioning of the unborn baby.
An undernourished mother signals the fetus that the outside environment does
not have sufficient nutrition. In return, the fetus responds by reducing its
metabolism, body size, and functions for survival (Nurliyana et al., 2016). The
response increases peripheral insulin resistance and reduces the secretion of
insulin. It also directs less glucose to insulin-dependent tissues and more to
vital organs such as the brain and heart. The adjustment can later cause
diabetes during adult life when there is a consumption of abundant nutrition.
The good news is that it is possible to reverse the effects of undernourished
infants if they are given nutritious meals and supplements after birth
(EurekAlart, 2017). The results were obtained from a controlled rat experiment
where undernutrition rats indicated improved health and reversal of adverse
effects of malnutrition after feeding on supplements.
Conclusion
It is important to discuss with the doctor
about nutrition and weight gain because they vary with every woman depending on
their health and body need. Fluids such as water, soups, and juices are
recommendable because they keep the expectant woman and the infant hydrate.
Fluids are also essential to the development of the fetus, just like a
nutritious meal. Regular visits to health care can help the woman to realize
any complication during pregnancy and avoid long-term effects that can harm her
and the baby. The question of whether it is possible to reverse the adverse
health effects of malnutrition after birth gives hope because the infant can be
fed with a nutritious diet during the early years and led a healthy life.
Creating awareness for pregnant women can also reduce the effects of unhealthy
lifestyles during pregnancy, which increases maternal and infant deaths.
References
EurekAlart. (2017). Effects of a poor diet during pregnancy may be
reversed in female adolescent offspring.
EurekAlert!. Retrieved 20 March 2020, from https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-02/foas-eoa022417.php.
Lightfoot, C., Cole, M., & Cole, S. The development of children (8th ed.).
Nurliyana, A., Mohd Shariff, Z., Mohd Taib,
M., Gan, W., & Tan, K. (2016). Early nutrition, growth, and cognitive
development of infants from birth to 2 years in Malaysia: a study protocol. BMC Pediatrics, 16(1).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-016-0700-0