Pregnancy Life Stage Essay, Research Paper

Does nutrition status affect fertility? Good overall nutrition, rather than

eating any specific food, greatly improves your chances of conceiving a child.

For women, nutrient deficiencies and low-calorie diets at one extreme, and

obesity at the other, can disrupt ovulation. Poor nutrition can also have an

impact on male fertility. In order to get pregnant, doctors recommend that both

women and men eat healthy, exercise and keep a positive mental attitude to

increase chances of fertilization. Eating healthy, exercise and keeping a

positive mental attitude are equally important during pregnancy and after

pregnancy. According to www.familyinternet.com, ?carrying a baby for nine

months and then providing it with breast milk afterward is a major nutritional

stress on a woman?s body. Food intake increases only 15-20%, but requirements

for specific nutrients such as folic acid, zinc, and certain B vitamins may

increase by 30-100%.? In addition, less than optimal nutrition can result in

low-birth weight babies with increased risk of heart disease and

non-insulin-dependent diabetes as adults. (www.childbirth-connections.com). Both

over-eating and under-eating can adversely affect the qualities and quantities

of breast milk, which is explained further under Dietary Requirements During

Pregnancy. During pregnancy, nutrients are passed from mother to fetus through

the placenta, and after birth, through breast-milk. The main vitamins and

nutrients needed by mother and fetus is explained in the chart below:

Nutrient/Vitamin Amount Needed Benefit Source Protein Need for pregnant women is

increased by 10 to 15 grams daily (1 glass of milk contains 8 grams of protein).

Forms structural basis for all new cells and tissues for both the mother and

fetus www.tdh.tx.us (Texas Department of Health) Carbohydrates 50-100 g/daily

Prevents ketosis, which, during pregnancy, can cause brain damage to the fetus.

www.tdh.tx.us Pregnancy Life Stage Nutrient/Vitamin Amount Needed Benefit Source

Folate 400-800 micrograms daily Prevents anemia during pregnancy, may prevent

miscarriage, preserves the integrity of genetic material, and lowers risk of

neural tube defects like spina-bifuda www.familyinternet.com Calcium 1000-1500

mg/daily Milk production and growing bones www.familyinternet.com Iron 30 mg

beginning 12th week of pregnancy Binds oxygen to hemoglobin and prevent

iron-deficiency anemia ?Nutrition During Pregnancy?, National Academy of

Sciences Vitamin D Adequate sun exposure, or 10 mg/daily for complete

vegetarians and 5 mg/daily for woman who don?t eat vitamin D-fortified foods

(dairy products) Promotes fetal growth, bone formation, tooth enamel formation

and the proper utilization of calcium www.familyinternet.com Vitamin B-6 2-5

mg/day during 1st & 2nd trimester, not to exceed 20 mg/day in the last

trimester; higher doses may shut off milk production Manufacture of hormones,

hemoglobin, neurotransmitters, many enzymes, and amino acids.

www.familyinternet.com Vitamin E 200 IU Decreases risk of premature babies and

low-birth weight infants and may lower the risk of miscarriage.

www.familyinternet.com Vitamin A Follow the RDA of 2700 IU daily Provides baby

with vitamin A reserves and sustains adequate breast-mil concentrations.

www.familyinternet.com Zinc 10-30 mg daily is sufficient and considered safe;

excessive intake of zinc can lower HDL-cholesterol. Reduces risk of miscarriage,

labor complications, neural tube defects and low-birth babies

www.familyinternet.com Food plays a major role in promoting a healthy life.

However, during the pregnancy cycle, nutrition is of even greater importance

because of the effects on both the mother and baby. Many people have said that a

pregnant mother is eating for two, which in fact is correct. The mother needs a

certain amount of protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, water and fiber in the

diet each day. Pregnancy Life Stage One suggested food plan, developed by

FamilyWeb.com, suggests that during the first 2 to 3 months of pregnancy, a

woman should try eating small amounts frequently throughout the day to keep the

energy higher. If the mother only eats larger amounts of food less frequently,

she may experience discomfort due to her energy levels reaching highs and lows.

The food plan also recommends that the mother eat raw vegetables, fruits,

juices, milk, breads and cereals in between meals as a way to keep the metabolic

rate and energy steady. Each food group has recommended or suggested serving

amounts for a pregnant woman. An outline of the serving amounts for each food

group is as follows: The Five Food Groups Suggested Number of Servings Fruits

and vegetables 4 or more Milk and dairy products 4 Meat, fish, poultry, eggs,

dried beans, peas and nuts 3 or more Whole grains, enriched breads and cereals 9

or more Fats and sweets Vary according to calories needed It is very important

that, during pregnancy, that the mother eats the suggested amounts from each of

the food groups in order to maintain a balanced diet and healthy nutritional

intake. The foods in each group all play a vital role in the diet because of the

following reasons:  Fruits and Vegetables ? The foods in this group

contain vitamins, minerals and fiber, which is a natural laxative and aids in

the regularity of the mother.  Milk and Dairy Products ? This group

contains calcium and other nutrients produce strong bones and teeth for the

mother and child.  Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dried beans, peas, seeds,

and nuts ? This group of foods is needed to supply protein needed to help

build new tissues and maintain the health of body cells. Pregnancy Life Stage

 Whole grain or enriched breads and cereals ? Breads and cereal foods

provide vitamins and minerals, such as B vitamins and iron. Whole grains and

cereals provide essential elements such as zinc and also fiber. These foods aid

in the production of energy.  Fats and Sweets ? This of foods such as

margarine, butter, jellies and sugars are high in sugar, fat and salt. These

should be used to meet additional caloric needs after the basic nutritional

needs have been met. Eating too much of these can crowd the other necessary

nutrients. Furthermore, it is best to get vitamins and minerals from the foods

eaten rather than from supplements because this is a good sign that the mother

has an adequate diet. However, the doctor may prescribe supplements for iron and

folacin because of increased needs during pregnancy. Also, vitamin C aids in the

absorption of iron. By taking iron supplements with orange juice or such, the

mother may double and even triple the amounts of iron absorbed. Also, it is

essential that the mother drink 6 to 8 glassed of water each day during

pregnancy in order to stay properly hydrated. There have been stories of

pregnant women with cravings such as pickles and ice cream. Although this may be

true, it is fine to eat foods that the pregnant mother craves occasionally.

However, she needs to remember the dietary and nutritional needs that other

foods previously mentioned are essential to being a healthy mother and having a

healthy baby. (www.familyweb.com). While eating the recommended diet a mother

should almost automatically gain the proper amount of weight. The recommended

amount of weight gain for the first trimester is 3-5 pounds. The recommendation

for the second and third trimester is one pound per week, which will lead

Pregnancy Life Stage to the recommended 25-35 pounds of total weight gain (ivillage.com).

It is suggested that women who are underweight should gain 28-40 pounds, women

who are overweight should only gain 15-25 pounds, and women pregnant with twins

should gain 35-45 pounds (women.com). The blood volume, breast and uterine

tissue, amniotic fluid, baby, placenta, and fluid retention account for 10-15

pounds of normal pregnancy weight gain (www.ivillage.com). Weight loss or

obesity during pregnancy is something that needs to be watched carefully. Some

researchers believe loss of weight during pregnancy causes ketones to be

liberated into the women?s blood. They feel that the ketones may be toxic to

the babies developing brains. There is an easy way to measure ketone levels, by

simply using a dipstick to test the urine. You can find dipsticks, such as

ketostix at any drugstore. Obesity can cause various complications during

pregnancy. Obesity, which is 20% or more overweight is associated with increased

chance of pregnancy problems, such as:  Pregnancy-induced hypertension

 Urinary tract infections  Caesarian deliveries (women.com)

Besides weight control, exercise is also very important during pregnancy. Active

mothers who exercise will feel better. Outdoor exercise and recreation give you

a chance to get sunshine and fresh air. Walking is particularly good because it

strengthens some of the muscles you will use in labor. Some exercises such as,

tailor sitting, the tailor press, the tailor stretch, spinal C-Curve, and the

deeply folded position are useful for strengthening muscles used in labor and

delivery. Another great exercise called the kegel exercise, better known as the

invisible exercise, is Pregnancy Life Stage designed to also strengthen pelvic

muscles. These exercises are all quite simple to do and should be done for a few

minutes each day during pregnancy. Maintaining fitness levels while pregnant

will provide strength and stamina during labor, and help you get back into shape

more easily once the baby is born. Women who exercise before getting pregnant

can keep doing so during pregnancy. However, women must remember to always

consult with their obstetrician or other health care provider before beginning

any new or rigorous exercise/activity while pregnant. Last but definitely not

least, there are the social environmental effects of pregnancy. Home life, work

life, school, family and relationships all can have positive or negative effects

on a mother’s social environment. Due to the social effects of teen pregnancy,

it is considered a negative social environment. Teens are generally not ready to

handle the nutritional and environmental needs during pregnancy. It is essential

that a mother keeps and positive mental state and stress to a minimum, because

if not, there are higher risks of miscarriages due to chemical reactions in the

body. Stress can also lead to substance abuse and pregnant women should also

stay away from drinking alcohol, drugs and cigarettes. Because of damages proven

by research, these habits have become socially unacceptable. Such ailments, like

alcohol use are associated with premature birth, low birth weight, and increased

labor complications. According to the Texas Department of Health, smoking women

are two times more likely to suffer a miscarriage than non-smokers and drug use

can be fatal to both the mother and child. Pregnancy Life Stage Summary Not only

is it important to eat right, exercise and keep a positive mental state during

pregnancy. It is just as essential to be aware of the needs of a mother before

getting pregnant. Pregnancy is a stage in life, where lifestyle plays a vital

role in promoting a healthy life for both a mother and a child. This is why

women who become pregnant should contact their doctor immediately to start

optimizing their needs as well as the needs of the child.

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Natal Care, The Pregnant Lifestyle. http://www.familyweb.com/pregnancy/natal,2000

Shanahan, Shelly, Nutririon and Weight. www.women.com, 2000. Plumbo, Peg, Weight

Gain Reccommendations. www.ivillage.com, 2000. http://www.parentsplace.com

http://www.babycenter.com http://www.familyinternet.com http://www.childbirth-connections.com

http://www.familyweb.com