Nutrition and Exercise During Pregnancy

Study Notes

Nutrition During Pregnancy

Balanced Diet: Emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Caloric Intake: Increase daily calorie intake by about 300-500 calories, especially in the second and third trimesters.
Key Nutrients:
- Folic Acid: Vital for fetal development; helps prevent neural tube defects. Recommended intake: 400-800 mcg/day.
- Iron: Supports increased blood volume; recommended intake: 27 mg/day.
- Calcium: Essential for fetal bone development; recommended intake: 1,000 mg/day.
- DHA/Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Important for brain development; found in fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts.

Exercise Recommendations

General Guidance:
- Regular exercise is safe and beneficial for most pregnant women.
- Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity weekly.
Safe Activities:
- Walking, swimming, stationary cycling, prenatal yoga.
Avoid:
- High-risk sports (e.g., scuba diving, contact sports).
- Activities with a high risk of falling or injury.
Consultation: Always consult a healthcare provider before starting or continuing an exercise routine during pregnancy.

Common Pregnancy Complications

Gestational Diabetes: Develops during pregnancy; requires monitoring of blood sugar levels and dietary management.
Preeclampsia: High blood pressure and signs of organ damage; can be serious without treatment.
Placenta Previa: Placenta partially or fully covers the cervix; may require cesarean delivery.
Preterm Labor: Labor that begins before 37 weeks; can lead to premature birth.

Exposure to Teratogens

Definition: Teratogens are substances or factors that can cause malformations in a developing fetus.
Types:
- Environmental (radiation, toxins)
- Infectious (viral/bacterial infections)
- Drug exposure (medications and recreational drugs)

Known Teratogens and Their Issues

Alcohol: Can lead to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), resulting in physical, behavioral, and learning problems.
Cigarette Smoke: Increases risks of low birth weight, preterm birth, and developmental issues.
Certain Medications: Some prescriptions (e.g., Accutane) can cause severe birth defects.
Infections: viral infections (like Zika) can cause neurological defects.

Rubella

Vaccine Status: Important to ensure rubella immunity before becoming pregnant.
Risks: Infection in early pregnancy can lead to congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), causing serious birth defects (e.g., heart defects, deafness).
Prevention: Vaccination before conception is recommended for women without immunity.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Cause: Result of alcohol exposure in utero.
Characteristics:
- Growth deficiencies
- Facial abnormalities (smooth philtrum, thin upper lip)
- Neurological issues, including cognitive deficits and behavioral problems.
Prevention: No amount of alcohol is considered safe during pregnancy.

Nutrition During Pregnancy

Increase calorie intake by 300-500 calories per day, especially in the second and third trimesters.
Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Folic acid is vital for fetal development and helps prevent neural tube defects, recommended intake is 400-800 mcg/day.
Iron is important to support increased blood volume, recommended intake is 27 mg/day.
Calcium is essential for fetal bone development, recommended intake is 1,000 mg/day.
DHA/Omega-3 Fatty Acids facilitate brain development, can be found in fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts.

Exercise Recommendations

Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week.
Safe activities include walking, swimming, stationary cycling, and prenatal yoga.
Avoid high-risk sports like scuba diving or contact sports, along with activities with a high risk of falling or injury.
Consult a healthcare provider before beginning or continuing an exercise routine during pregnancy.

Common Pregnancy Complications

Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy and requires monitoring of blood sugar levels and dietary management.
Preeclampsia involves high blood pressure and signs of organ damage, it can be serious if left untreated.
Placenta Previa occurs when the placenta partially or fully covers the cervix, a cesarean delivery may be needed.
Preterm Labor starts before 37 weeks and can lead to premature birth.

Exposure to Teratogens

Teratogens are substances or factors that can cause malformations in a developing fetus.
They can be environmental, infectious, or related to drug exposure.

Known Teratogens and Their Issues

Alcohol can lead to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) causing physical, behavioral, and learning problems.
Cigarette smoke increases risks of low birth weight, preterm birth, and developmental issues.
Certain medications, like Accutane, can cause severe birth defects.
Viral infections, such as Zika, can cause neurological defects.

Rubella

Vaccination before conception is recommended for women without immunity against rubella.
Infection in early pregnancy can lead to congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), causing serious birth defects like heart defects and deafness.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Caused by alcohol exposure in utero.
Characteristics include growth deficiencies, facial abnormalities (smooth philtrum, thin upper lip), and neurological issues like cognitive deficits and behavioral problems.
No amount of alcohol is considered safe during pregnancy.

Description

This quiz covers essential nutrition guidelines and exercise recommendations for pregnant women. Understand the importance of a balanced diet rich in key nutrients like folic acid, iron, calcium, and DHA, as well as safe physical activities during pregnancy. Test your knowledge on how to support a healthy pregnancy through diet and exercise.