Nutrition Module 8 Questions

Why does the need for iron increase so dramatically during pregnancy?

1. the fetus needs iron for its developing blood supply (iron is needed as a constituent of the hemoglobin in the red blood cell) 2. the mother's blood volume also increases significantly to support the pregnancy. 3. The fetus also needs to store three to six months-worth of iron since milk is not a particularly good source

What is the protein RDA for lactating women (_____ grams per kilogram body weight)?

1.1 grams

What is the protein RDA for pregnant women (_____ grams per kilogram body weight)?

1.1 grams per kilogram

What is the normal weight gain during pregnancy for a woman at a normal pre-pregnancy weight? How is this weight gain distributed among the three trimesters? How does the weight gain recommendation differ for women who are underweight or overweight prior to conception?

25-35 lbs / during the first trimester little weight is gained, during the second trimester about 2-4 pounds, during the third trimester about 10-20 pounds are gained / underweight women need to gain more weight than obese women

How do the kcaloric needs of the lactating woman compare to the pregnant and non-pregnant woman?

350-400 kcals and the remaining kcals can come from fat stores laid down during the pregnancy

Why do health care professionals promote breast feeding as the "best" option?

It is very high in immune factors (antibodies produced by mother, white cells, factors that influence the growth of healthy gut bacteria and inactive harmful bacteria) and can provide considerable protection to the newborn. After several days, the more mature milk is produced. It still offers some immune protection but is designed to provide optimal nutrition for the growing infant.

What is the physiology of breastfeeding?

When the child suckles at the breast, this suckling sends a signal to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus then signals the pituitary to release the hormones prolactin and oxytocin. Prolactin stimulates the production of milk and oxytocin causes the release of milk from storage. When oxytocin signals the release of the milk, it then flows down though the nipple into the suckling infant. This is called the "let-down" reflex.

What is listeriosis? Why is a concern for pregnant women? How can you avoid it?

a food borne illness that can lead to miscarriages in pregnant women caused by the bacteria listeria monocytogenes / pregnant women are far more likely to get this food borne illness / wash salad greens well, heat all deli meats until they are steaming before eating and avoid any unpasteurized cheese

What are the kcaloric needs of the pregnant woman in comparison to the non-pregnant woman?

a pregnant woman's kcal needs only increase about 15% over the non-pregnant state

What things should you avoid consuming during a pregnancy?

alcohol, smoking, drugs, caffeine, megadoses of nutrients, large amounts of fish, listeria

Why should pregnant women consume nutrient dense foods?

because the woman and the fetus are growing in weight and therefore need more nutrients

How will the breastfeeding mom know if the lactating child is getting adequate nutrition?

by the number of wet diapers per day (5-6 normal), the frequency of bowel movements, and the child's growth on a growth chart (longer term indicator)

What food should you explicitly avoid during the first year of a child's life?

cow's milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat

Why do we discourage mothers from restricting an infant's or toddler's fat intake?

fat is a concentrated source of kcals and the infant needs this concentrated source of energy to reach full growth potential.

How is this weight that a woman gains during pregnancy distributed?

fetus (7-8), amnoitic fluid (2), placenta (1-2), uterus (2), Maternal blood (3-4), breast tissue (2), extracellular fluids (4), & maternal fat (4-11)

Why is it essential to be sure you get adequate folate early in a pregnancy

folate is necessary for cell division (without it the fetus will not grow properly)

What is pre-eclampsia and eclampsia? What are some other names for this disorder? How is it detected? Is a sodium restriction necessary for a woman with eclampsia?

high blood pressure, edema (fluid retention) and protein in the urine / pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). / by high blood pressure / no

What should be monitored during a pregnancy?

iron intake, weight, blood pressure, kcals, variety of nutrious foods, water intake, caffeine intake,

What are the two types of low birth weight? What can cause low birth weight in infants? Why is low birth weight a concern?

low birth weight or very low birth weight / too soon or too small / they are at increased risk for early illness and death

The lactating woman should minimize the consumption of some items. What are they?

minimize or eliminate alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine

What is the normal period of gestation? What is the normal birth weight for a baby?

nine months / about 7 pounds

Is morning sickness a sign that the fetus is not developing normally?

no

What are the ramifications of drinking alcohol during pregnancy? smoking during pregnancy?

she will give birth to a child with fetal alcohol syndrome / it increases the risk for miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery, and delivery of a low-birth-weight baby

When is the most critical period in the pregnancy, when an "insult" is most likely to cause a miscarriage or catastrophic defect in the unborn child?

smoking, alcohol, drug use and malnutrition can prevent the zygote from implanting or can cause serious birth defects and/or possible miscarriage. If an organ or organ system doesn't develop normally during this period, recovery is impossible.

What are the two feeding options for the newborn infant?

specially designed formula for infants or breast milk

What is a neural tube defect? How does spina bifida differ from anencephaly?

spina bifida-where the spinal vertebrae (part of the neural tube) failed to close completely, allowing the spinal cord and spinal fluid to bulge out through the opening / when the top of the neural tube doesn't close and the child's brain does not fully develop. This is called anencephaly

The need for calcium doesn't increase during pregnancy yet the fetus certainly needs calcium to build the skeleton. How does the woman's body respond to the infant's need for calcium?

the absorption of calcium increases considerably

Be able to explain the concept of "critical period" in embryonic development.

the brain, spinal cord, heart and major blood vessels begin to form by day 16 or 17 and many organs are completely formed by 10 weeks from conception

Describe the events that take place from conception to 2 weeks post conception in the female body.

the egg may be fertilized called a zygote. The zygote divides repeatedly as it moves down the fallopian tube and will enter the uterus in 3-5 days. The fertilized egg will eventually implant onto the wall of the uterus and develop into an embryo and a placenta. The placenta is the organ that enables the transfer of oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the fetus and waste materials from the fetus back to the mother for removal. Note that there is not a direct exchange of blood between the fetus and the mother, but there is an exchange of life supporting materials. The placenta also produces hormones that help maintain the pregnancy. By about day 10-12 after conception, an inner layer of membranes develops forming an amniotic sac.

Why is adequate water consumption so important when breastfeeding?

the woman can get dehydrated

What is the time frame for the first trimester, second trimester, third trimester?

three months each

Why might a woman's nutritional status prior to conception be an important factor which could influence pregnancy outcome?

to enrich the baby's health as much as possible

What nutrient should women be very careful not to overconsume during a pregnancy?

vitamin A

What are the supplements that breastfed infants may need?

vitamin b12, D, K and fluoride

Explain how a growth chart is constructed. What sort of trend on a growth chart might cause alarm?

weight for age, weight for height, head circumference, and BMI for age / when the baby is underweight or severly over

When is a child ready to consume semi-solid foods? How should these foods be introduced? Why?

when the child is able to sit with support and control head movements and should have a mature suck and swallow reflex / only semi-solid foods and liquid should be offered along with dilute juice. The focus should be on baby foods rich in iron and vitamin C since stores of these nutrients will be low by this time

Identify the terminology used for the newly forming life from fertilization to delivery.

zygote (2 weeks), embryo (3-8 weeks), fetus (8-birth)