Question

Put in essay format using your own words.

1.       Describe placental and fetal development and the importance of critical periods.

2.       Explain the risk factors for the development of neural tube defects.

3.       Describe the expected weight gain during pregnancy and components of the gained weight.

4.       Discuss the prenatal requirements for kilocalories, proteins, vitamins and minerals and supplementation. What are the exercise recommendations for pregnant women?

5.       Describe the treatment for the common discomforts of pregnancy.

6.       Discuss the medical problems that can occur during pregnancies, including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and lifestyle.

7. Describe the nutritional needs and habits that are incompatible with lactation.

8.       Identify nutritional and other health benefits of breast feeding. Discuss the factors used in the selection of an infant formula.

9. Discuss the effect of nutritional deficiency on behavior, and food allergies and intolerances.

10. Describe the incidence of childhood obesity and the role of heredity and environmental factors, the development of type-two diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Answer 1

1.PLACENTAL AND FETAL DEVELOPMENT:

• PLACENTA IS AN ORGAN WHICH DEVELOPS DURING PREGNANCY PROVIDES NUTRITION AND OXYGEN TO THE DEVELOPING FETUS.
• IT ALSO AIDS IN THE EXCRETION OF THE WASTE PRODUCTS FROM THE MOTHER'S BLOOD.
• THE PLACENTA IS ADHERED TO THE UTERINE WALL AND THE FETUS ' UMBILICAL CORD IS ATTACHED TO THE PLACENTA.
• FORMATION OF THE PLACENTA IS BY THE PROCESS OF IMPLANTATION OF THE BLASTOCYST INTO THE MATERNAL ENDOTHELIUM.
• THE PLACENTA IS FORMED BY THE 12 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY AND IT CONTINUES TO GROW THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY.
• PLACENTA IS DELIVERED ALONG WITH THE FETUS.

CRITICAL PERIODS:

• DEFECTIVE PLACENTAL FORMATION LEADS TO PRE-ECLAMPSIA AND FETAL GROWTH RESTRICTION.

2.RISK FACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS:

• NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS REFER TO THE ABNORMALITIES THAT OCCURS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPINAL CORD ( SPINA BIFIDA) AND BRAIN ( ANENCEPHALY).
• IT OCCURS DUE TO COMBINATION OF GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS.
• IT CAN BE PREVENTED BY INTAKE OF FOLIC ACID BEFORE 1 MONTH OF PREGNANCY AND DURING THE FIRST 3 MONTHS OF PREGNANCY.
• RISK FACTORS INCLUDE: VITAMIN B12 ( FOLATE) DEFICIENCY,OBESITY, MOTHER ON ANTI-EPILEPTIC DRUG.

3.EXPECTED WEIGHT GAIN DURING PREGNANCY:

• THE EXPECTED WEIGHT GAIN DURING THE FIRST TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY IS RELATIVELY LOW AND TOTALLY THE MOTHER SHOULD GAIN 25 TO 35 POUNDS .
• HEALTHY , NUTRITIOUS AND BALANCED DIET IS ESSENTIAL FOR EFFECTIVE WEIGHT GAIN.
• EATING FIVE TO SIX SMALL MEALS TO GAIN EXPECTED WEIGHT GAIN.

COMPONENTS OF WEIGHT GAIN DURING PREGNANCY:

1. PRODUCTS OF CONCEPTION :PLACENTA. FETUS AND AMNIOTIC FLUID.
2. ACCUMULATION OF MATERNAL TISSUES:ENLARGEMENT OF UTERUS AND MAMMARY GLANDS,INCREASE IN ADIPOSE TISSUE, EXTRACELLULAR FLUID AND BLOOD VOLUME,

4.PRENATAL REQUIREMENTS FOR KILOCALORIES, PROTEINS, MINERALS , VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTATION:

• NUTRIENTS LIKE FOLIC ACID AND IRON ARE THE MOST ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTAION DURING THE PRENATAL PERIOD.IT SHOULD BE WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS AS THE EXCESS AMOUNT IS HARMFUL TO MOTHER AND BABY.
• EXERCISE RECOMMENDATIONS: LOWER BACK STRETCHES,UPPER BACK STRETCH, PELVIC TILTS, KEGELS EXERCISES