Prenatal Nutrition

Updated: December 3, 2024

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Background

Optimal prenatal nutrition supports the health and development of the fetus and mother through dietary/nutrient intake.

Essential nutrition in critical period impacts long-term health of mother and child.

Essential nutrients support baby’s growth, organ development, tissue formation, and bone health.

Nutrition in pregnancy is crucial for maternal energy, fetal development, and postpartum lactation energy reserves.

Underweight women at risk for low weight babies, while overweight women at risk for macrosomic infants.

Epidemiology

Approximately 32 million pregnant women globally affected with iron deficiency anemia.

Vitamin D deficiency reported in 40 to 60% of pregnant women globally in areas with limited sunlight exposure.

Iodine deficiency affects nearly 2 billion people including pregnant women to impaired fetal brain development.

Macronutrient deficiencies in LMICs to low birth weight and intrauterine growth restriction.

Anatomy

Pathophysiology

It affects the retina with glycoprotein synthesis and cell growth. Lack of amino acids harms fetal cell growth and nutrient delivery efficiency.

Lack of nutrients in mother body affects fetus growth and development. Adipose tissue inflammation and metabolic dysfunction lead to oxidative stress.

Maternal nutrition impacts gene expression, hormones, and fetal development outcomes.

Etiology

The causes of prenatal nutrition are:

Nutritional deficiencies

Macronutrient deficiencies

Biological and physiological factors

Behavioural and lifestyle factors

Genetics

Prognostic Factors

First trimester affects organogenesis and neural tube formation, later deficiencies impact fetal growth and fat.

Maternal malnutrition may lead to fetal programming and disease susceptibility.

Regular prenatal check-ups catch deficiencies early for timely treatment with supplements or dietary advice.

Clinical History

Collect details including obstetric, genetic and medical history to understand clinical history of patient.

Physical Examination

Skin examination

Oral examination

Cardiovascular examination

Neurological examination

Age group

Associated comorbidity

Associated activity

Acuity of presentation

Acute symptoms are:

Fatigue, dizziness, and fainting, palpitations, tachycardia, pallor, muscle spasms, cramps, perioral numbness

Chronic symptoms are:

Gradual onset of fatigue, weakness, reduced exercise tolerance, enlarged thyroid gland, hypothyroidism

Differential Diagnoses

Iron Deficiency Anemia

Folate Deficiency

Protein-Energy Malnutrition

Laboratory Studies

Imaging Studies

Procedures

Histologic Findings

Staging

Treatment Paradigm

Use ferrous sulfate or ferrous gluconate if side effects occur.

Advise folic acid supplementation or higher doses in specific cases of neural tube defects.

For vitamin B12 deficiency use vitamin B12 injections 1000 mcg through intramuscular or subcutaneous route.

For protein-energy malnutrition use high-calorie foods or oral nutritional supplements.

by Stage

by Modality

Chemotherapy

Radiation Therapy

Surgical Interventions

Hormone Therapy

Immunotherapy

Hyperthermia

Photodynamic Therapy

Stem Cell Transplant

Targeted Therapy

Palliative Care

use-of-non-pharmacological-approach-for-prenatal-nutrition

Patient should include diet rich in iron, fortified cereals, and leafy green vegetables.

Oral iron supplements are used as the first-line treatment for mild to moderate iron deficiency anemia.

Stress can harm mother and babies thus balance should be maintained in work and life.

Proper awareness about prenatal nutrition should be provided and its related causes with management strategies.

Appointments with a gynecologist and preventing recurrence of disorder is an ongoing life-long effort.

Use of Iron Supplements

Ferrous gluconate:

It involves dissolution in the acidic environment of the stomach in the small intestine.

Use of Folic Acid

It boosts the production of red blood cells and haemoglobin in the body.

use-of-intervention-with-a-procedure-in-treating-prenatal-nutrition

Procedural interventions are needed for severe malnutrition, nutrient deficiencies from prenatal nutritional issues when dietary changes are insufficient.

use-of-phases-in-managing-prenatal-nutrition

In the initial treatment phase, the goal is to optimize maternal nutritional status before conception to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Pharmacologic therapy is effective in the treatment phase as it includes the use of iron supplements and folic acid.

In supportive care and management phase, patients should receive required attention such as lifestyle modification and intervention therapies.

The regular follow-up visits with the gynecologist are scheduled to check the improvement of patients along with treatment response.

Medication

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Prenatal Nutrition

Updated : December 3, 2024

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Optimal prenatal nutrition supports the health and development of the fetus and mother through dietary/nutrient intake.

Essential nutrition in critical period impacts long-term health of mother and child.

Essential nutrients support baby’s growth, organ development, tissue formation, and bone health.

Nutrition in pregnancy is crucial for maternal energy, fetal development, and postpartum lactation energy reserves.

Underweight women at risk for low weight babies, while overweight women at risk for macrosomic infants.

Approximately 32 million pregnant women globally affected with iron deficiency anemia.

Vitamin D deficiency reported in 40 to 60% of pregnant women globally in areas with limited sunlight exposure.

Iodine deficiency affects nearly 2 billion people including pregnant women to impaired fetal brain development.

Macronutrient deficiencies in LMICs to low birth weight and intrauterine growth restriction.

It affects the retina with glycoprotein synthesis and cell growth. Lack of amino acids harms fetal cell growth and nutrient delivery efficiency.

Lack of nutrients in mother body affects fetus growth and development. Adipose tissue inflammation and metabolic dysfunction lead to oxidative stress.

Maternal nutrition impacts gene expression, hormones, and fetal development outcomes.

The causes of prenatal nutrition are:

Nutritional deficiencies

Macronutrient deficiencies

Biological and physiological factors

Behavioural and lifestyle factors

First trimester affects organogenesis and neural tube formation, later deficiencies impact fetal growth and fat.

Maternal malnutrition may lead to fetal programming and disease susceptibility.

Regular prenatal check-ups catch deficiencies early for timely treatment with supplements or dietary advice.

Collect details including obstetric, genetic and medical history to understand clinical history of patient.

Skin examination

Oral examination

Cardiovascular examination

Neurological examination

Acute symptoms are:

Fatigue, dizziness, and fainting, palpitations, tachycardia, pallor, muscle spasms, cramps, perioral numbness

Chronic symptoms are:

Gradual onset of fatigue, weakness, reduced exercise tolerance, enlarged thyroid gland, hypothyroidism

Iron Deficiency Anemia

Folate Deficiency

Protein-Energy Malnutrition

Use ferrous sulfate or ferrous gluconate if side effects occur.

Advise folic acid supplementation or higher doses in specific cases of neural tube defects.

For vitamin B12 deficiency use vitamin B12 injections 1000 mcg through intramuscular or subcutaneous route.

For protein-energy malnutrition use high-calorie foods or oral nutritional supplements.

OB/GYN and Women\'s Health

Patient should include diet rich in iron, fortified cereals, and leafy green vegetables.

Oral iron supplements are used as the first-line treatment for mild to moderate iron deficiency anemia.

Stress can harm mother and babies thus balance should be maintained in work and life.

Proper awareness about prenatal nutrition should be provided and its related causes with management strategies.

Appointments with a gynecologist and preventing recurrence of disorder is an ongoing life-long effort.

OB/GYN and Women\'s Health

Ferrous gluconate:

It involves dissolution in the acidic environment of the stomach in the small intestine.

OB/GYN and Women\'s Health

It boosts the production of red blood cells and haemoglobin in the body.

OB/GYN and Women\'s Health

Procedural interventions are needed for severe malnutrition, nutrient deficiencies from prenatal nutritional issues when dietary changes are insufficient.

OB/GYN and Women\'s Health

In the initial treatment phase, the goal is to optimize maternal nutritional status before conception to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Pharmacologic therapy is effective in the treatment phase as it includes the use of iron supplements and folic acid.

In supportive care and management phase, patients should receive required attention such as lifestyle modification and intervention therapies.

The regular follow-up visits with the gynecologist are scheduled to check the improvement of patients along with treatment response.

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