Risk and protective factors for prenatal development

Risk factors - Definition

Factors that impact negatively on the health and development of the unborn child and expecting mother

Protective Factors - Definition

Factors that impact positively on the health and development of the unborn child and expecting mother.

Antenatal Care

Protective factor - Care provided to the mother and child after birth.

Purpose is to monitor the health and wellbeing of the child and mother, to educate as well as provide medical intervention if necessary.

Maternal Diet

Protective and risk factor:

RISK

Women who are malnourished are at much greater risk of having a low birth weight baby.

Women who have nutritional deficiencies prior to conceiving are also likely to have these deficiencies during pregnancy due to greater demands that are made for the body to provide for the growing fetus

PROTECTIVE

Eating a healthy balanced diet can create a healthy growing fetus

Micronutrients - Folate

B group vitamin that assists w the development of neural tube LACK OF FOLATE CAN LEAD TO SPINA BIFITA (where vertabrae or skill may not close properly during development and results n the spinal cord or brain being exposed.) eggs.

Micronutrients - Iodine

mineral needed in greater amounts during term to promote brain and nerve function. Eggs

Minerals - Iron

Protective factor - Required in greater amounts during pregnancy, because of the increased demand for oxygen from the pregnant mother.

Sources: Red meat, egg yolks, legumes

Smoking

Risk factor - Tobacco contains chemicals and acts to reduce oxygen flow to the placenta.

Alcohol

Risk factor- When alcohol is consumed it crosses the placenta from the mothers blood to the babies blood.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a potential development and health outcome to the unborn child as a result.