NUTRITION IN THE LIFE CYCLE 1-4

What is pre-conception period?

The time before or in between pregnancies.

What are some factors affecting fertility in both males and females

Weight loss of more than 10 to 15% of normal weight

Inadequate antioxidant status

Inadequate body fat

Excessive body fat

High alcohol intake

Some medications

Factors affecting fertility in females

Recent oral contraceptive use

High fiber diet

Age >35

Poor iron stores

Vegan diet

Factors affecting fertility in males

Heavy metals exposure

Estrogen exposure

Steroid abuse

High intake of foods soy rich foods

Sperm defects

Inadequate zinc status

Pre-conception plan should include;

Overall health

Health habits

Social support

Mental support

Nutritional exposure before and early pregnancy that can affect growth and development of foetus

Underweight/obesity

Iron deficiency

Iodine deficiency

Alcohol

Poorly controlled diabetes

Insufficient folate status

Excessive vitamin A

What is the barker’s theory (foetal origin hypothesis)?

A theory suggesting that conditions during gestational development can alter risk for chronic diseases later in life

In the barker’s theory, (I) Structure of genes does not change (II) The amount/levels of energy and nutrients can modify which genes are expressed and which are not (III) Genes are changed/ modified

I and II

What year did the Dutch hunger take place?

1943-44

What was the average caloric and protein intake during the Dutch hunger

1100kcal and 34g

Effects of exposure of hunger during first trimester

Schizophrenia

Neural tube defect

High body weight and central fat

Infertility

High LDL and low HDL cholesterol

Effects of exposure of hunger during first/second trimester

Antisocial personality disorders

Effects of exposure of hunger during the second half of pregnancy

Decreased glucose tolerance

What is the overview of pregnancy

Ovulation

Fertilization

Cleavage

Morula

Early blastocyst

Implantation

Mention the pregnancy hormones

Human chorionic gonadotrophic hormone

Oestrogen

Progesterone

Human placental lactogen

The role of human chorionic gonadotrophic hormone

It maintains the corpus luteum until the placenta is formed and used to confirm pregnancy in pregnancy tests.

Role of oestrogen in pregnancy

Responsible for breast and uterus growth

Role of progesterone in pregnancy

Inhibits contraction of uterus until the time of labor

Role of human placental lactogen

Diverts glucose to the foetus

Determinants of nutritional needs in pregnancy

Age

Parity

Gestational age and placental efficiency

Pre-pregnancy nutrition

What gestational age is considered normal for FULL TERM infants

37 weeks-42 weeks

Infants born less than 37 weeks are considered?

Pre-term/pre-mature

Babies less than 2.5kg are termed at?

Low birth weight (LBW)

What is intra uterine growth retardation (IUGR)?

Delayed or slow growth in utero

What is appropriate for gestational age (AGA)?

An infant who weighs between 10th and 90th percentile

What is large for gestational age (LGA)

An infant who weighs more than the 90th percentile for gestational age.

What is the total maternal weight gain at term?

14.7kg

What are the energy needs during the second and third trimester?

340kcal and 452kcal

What are the carbohydrates needs during pregnancy

175g

What are the protein needs

45g-71g

What are the iron needs in pregnancy

14.5mg to 27mg

Side effects of iron supplementation

Nausea

Cramps

Stool discoloration

Gas

Constipation

Calcium needs in pregnancy

1000mg for adult pregnant women

1300mg for adolescent girls

Iodine needs in pregnancy

150ug to 220ug

Folate requirement during pregnancy

400ug to 600ug

Vitamin B6 requirement in pregnancy

0.6mg

Vitamin c requirement in pregnancy

75mg to 85mg

What are some nutrition related concerns in pregnancy

Nausea and vomiting

Constipation

Heart burn

Food cravings

Alcohol

Drugs

Nicotine

Caffeine intake

Hypertension

Ways of improving nausea and vomiting during pregnancy

Eat small frequent meals

Consumption of dry foods

Avoid odors, food and supplements that trigger nausea and vomiting

Try ginger(125mg to 250mg)

Laxatives should not be taken to treat constipation during pregnancy

True