Question

Science of Nutrition

3) Discuss how maternal age, eating patterns, overall health, and lifestyle choices affect pregnancy outcome.

4) Provide 5 tips for mothers who want to maximize their chances of breastfeeding successfully, and what advice you give to a new mother who is still deciding on breastfeeding her baby? Include 5 benefits in your advice.

***Please be specific/detailed

Answer 1

3. Discuss how maternal age, eating patterns, overall health and lifestyle choices affect pregnancy outcome

Maternal Age

As women age, the risks associated with pregnancy increases. Pregnancy after the age 35 brings a higher risk of complications like down syndrome, Gestational diabetes mellitus, Eclampsia etc. Too early pregnancy (<18years) and too late pregnancies will bring more complications and chromosomal abnormalities than a women who is preganant in her 20-30s.

Lifestyle

Maternal nutrition and lifestyle choices are major influences on both mother & Child health. Women of childbearing age should adopt a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of birth defects, suboptimal fetal development, Chronic health problems in mother and baby.

Pre pregnancy body mass index (BMI) is an independent predictor of many adverse outcomes of pregnancy. Overweight during pregnancy may lead to short and long term maternal health risks eg: Diabetes mellitus

Pregnant woman should be engaged in physical activities & exercises unless contraindicated. That will improve the circulation, provides positive vibes & confidence. Taking Vtamin & mineral supplements will prevent the complications like anemia in mother and neural tube defects in fetus.

Also should avoid smoking and Alcohol use. because it may cause teratogenic effects on the growing fetus.

Nutrition

As we all know, the nutrition is basic human need and prerequisite for healthy life. A proper diet is essential from very early age of life for growth, development and active life. Pregnancy is a period of great physiological stress for woman as she is nurturing a gowing fetus within her body.

Fetal growth and development increases the BMR (basal metabolic rate) by 5% during first trimester and 12% during second and third trimester. This increases the total energy requirement. and also there will be an alteration in gastrointestinal functions which causes nausea, constipation and vomiting.

Unhealthy eating trends like irregular meal time, craving for sweet snack or drink, high fat food intake (fried foods and processed foods), Imbalance meal.

Mother has to nurture the fetus; health of the newborn depends on nutritional status of the mother during and prior to conception.

Overall many factors are associated with a Pregnancy. General health of the pregnant women is very important for a healthy child. That also will improve the quality of the preganant period. So the woman and her family members can enjoy each and every moments in a peaceful manner.

4.

5 TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL BREAST FEEDING

1. Feed the baby on demand or according to the need of the baby with right position and attachment.

2. Breast milk supply can be increased by, frequent feeds day and night, allowing unlimited breastfeeding to satisfy the baby's suckling needs, mother has to maintain well-balanced diet and drink 2-3L water daily.

3. Signs of getting enough milk from mother to baby includes passes clear dilute urine 5-6 times a day, passes bright yellow watery stool 6-8 times a day, and regains birth weight after 2 weeks

4. Rooming in - allowing unlimited contact between mother and infant, that will promote the bonding between them.

5. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk unless medically indicated.

Advices to a new mother regarding breast feeding

1. Early initiation of breastfeeding for the normal newborn will,

• increases duration of breast feeding
• allows skin-to-skin contact for warmth and colonization of baby with maternal organisms
• provides colostrum as the baby's first immunization
• babies learn to suckle more effectively
• improved developmental outcomes of the baby

2. Exclusive breast feeding is mandatory in "On demand" basis. That will help the mother and child in different ways includes,

for mother:

• decreases postpartum bleeding and more rapid uterine involution
• decreases the risk of ovarian and breast cancer
• returns to prepregnancy weight early
• decreases menstrual blood loss and increase child spacing (Lactational amenorrhea)

for baby:

• Bonding between mother and baby will increase
• Child will be protected from many diseases because breast milk contains immunoglobulins(IgA), lactoferrin,lysosymes etc as anti infective factors.
• Helpful for the growth & development of the child

3. Position the baby carefully

• Baby's head in line with the body
• whole body well supported
• Baby turned towards the mother
• baby's abdomen touching the mother's abdomen

4. Good attachment with breast

• Baby's lower lip is turned outwards
• baby's mouth is wide open
• more areola is visible above the baby's mouth than below
• Baby's chin is touching the mother's breast

5. Mother can understand effective sucking by observing the child. Infant takes several slow deep sucks followed by swallowing and then pauses.

6. There are different postions to breast feed the baby eg: cradle hold, cross-cradle hold, football hold, lying down

7. Burp the child after each feeding to make the baby omfortable.

8. If the mother is having any issues like inverted or flat nipple, sore nipple, breast engorgement, breast abscess, not enough milk, should consult with your Gynecologist/Physician for early treatment.