Student Name: Umer Khan
UTD HLTH 1322
ASSIGNMENT 9
Ch. 16-Maternal and Infant Nutrition
Directions: Use brief, complete sentences to answer the following questions (20
points each).
Remember: Use blue or
italics
font for your answers.
1. “Outline the recommended total weight gain as well as the pattern by
trimester during pregnancy for a woman who is at a healthy pre-pregnancy
weight (BMI 18.5-24.9).”
The recommended weight gain by the end of pregnancy is from 25-35
pounds. During the first trimester it is expected to gain around 1-4.5 pounds;
during the second trimester weight gain is about 1-2 pounds per week and
during the third trimester the same amount is expected to be gained per
week.
2. “Explain why a woman’s pre-pregnancy health and weight status are issues
of medical importance.”
Even before a woman conceives her diet will have an effect on her
pregnancy. Her BMI and her overall health as well as nutrient levels in her
body affect the babies birthweight. Researchers have found out that
underweight women are more likely to give birth to underweight babies and
overweight women can have problems dealing with blood pressure and
sugar levels. The woman who wishes to become pregnant should also have
strong healthy bones because if there is not enough calcium in the diet then
the body may supply the fetus with calcium from the mother’s bones and
this can lead to osteoporosis.
3. “Briefly explain the basis for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans advice to
all women who are capable of becoming pregnant to consume 400 mcg. per
day of synthetic folic acid from fortified or enriched foods
in addition
to
folate intake from natural food sources
and
to consume sources of heme
iron, additional iron sources, and enhancers of iron absorption, such as foods
high in Vitamin C.”
The reason why women need more folic acid and folate in their diets is
because without the supplements women will be at more risk to having
babies with neural tube defects. This problem is associated with the spine
and babies with this defect can be paralyzed, have cognitive problems
and/or have malformed spines. Folic acid is needed daily in certain amounts
because it is essential in having healthy babies. Not having enough can lead
to the mother becoming anemic. The reason why women are encouraged to
take more iron into their diets is because more blood volume is needed for
the developing baby and the blood supply of the baby comes from the
mother. The mother should take enhancers of iron absorption so that the
heme iron, which is the more absorbable iron needed in blood, can be taken
