how may maternal malnutrition affect the course of pregnancy and fetal development?

by Dr. Vicky Denesik III 3 min read

Maternal malnutrition is common in the developing world and has detrimental effects on both the mother and infant. Pre-pregnancy nutritional status and weight gain during pregnancy are positively related to fetal growth and development.

Poor maternal nutritional intake after the periconceptional period during pregnancy can also negatively impact fetal genetic growth trajectory and can result in fetal growth restriction
fetal growth restriction
IUGR frequency will vary depending on the discrimination criteria adopted. It is extremely important to use local or national fetal growth graphs in order to avoid some confounding factors. IUGR incidence in newborns would be between 3% and 7% of the total population.
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Jun 4, 2016

Full Answer

What are the effects of Maternal undernutrition during pregnancy?

Poor maternal nutritional intake after the periconceptional period during pregnancy can also negatively impact fetal genetic growth trajectory and can result in fetal growth restriction. Vonnahme et al. [3], describe the effects of maternal undernutrition on vascularity of nutrient transferring tissue during different stages of pregnancy.

How does prenatal malnutrition affect fetal brain development?

A predominant cause of hindered fetal brain development is maternal malnutrition, including placental insufficiency. Protein seems to be the most critical element for development of neurological function, and prenatal protein deficiency can impact brain development at critical junctures. 2

Is there a relationship between maternal nutrition and fetal growth?

It is discussed the available evidence on the relation of maternal nutrition and fetal growth through clinical and epidemiological studies performed in animal and humans, analyzing the causal mechanisms of this association, including the role of placenta.

How does poor nutrition during pregnancy affect biological pathway?

The researchers have learned that an important biological pathway appears to be disabled by poor nutrition during pregnancy. A biological pathway is a series of actions among molecules in a cell that leads to a certain product or a change in a cell.

How maternal malnutrition can affect the development of a Foetus?

During pregnancy, poor diets lacking in key nutrients – like iodine, iron, folate, calcium and zinc – can cause anaemia, pre-eclampsia, haemorrhage and death in mothers. They can also lead to stillbirth, low birthweight, wasting and developmental delays for children.

How does maternal nutrition affect growth and development?

Imbalances in maternal nutrition can adversely affect normal foetal growth and development. Impaired foetal growth is prevalent in developing countries and has been associated with negative short- and long-term outcomes such as increased perinatal morbidity and mortality, infant mortality and childhood morbidity.

How does malnutrition during pregnancy affect the child's health at birth and in later life?

Maternal malnutrition increases the risk of poor pregnancy outcomes including obstructed labour, premature or low-birth-weight babies and postpartum haemorrhage. Severe anaemia during pregnancy is linked to increased mortality at labour. Low-birth-weight is a significant contributor to infant mortality.

How does malnutrition during critical periods of development affect the fetus?

Malnutrition can affect the fetus in very dangerous ways. It can cause impaired development in infant, fetal growth retardation, congenital malformations, spontaneous abortion and stillbirth, premature birth and low infant birth weight. Define the term critical period.

What effect does malnutrition during critical times of development in pregnancy have on the fetus quizlet?

What effect does malnutrition during critical times of development in pregnancy have on the fetus? Impairment of the development of an organ is irreversible. A nonpregnant woman requires 1600 calories per day to maintain her desirable body weight.

Does maternal nutrition affect infant?

A nutrient-rich maternal diet before and during pregnancy is associated with improved fetal health, more appropriate birth weight, and increased rates of maternal and infant survival. Physicians need a better understanding of the role of diet in shaping fetal outcomes.

How malnutrition affects the growth and development of a child?

Malnutrition can cause permanent, widespread damage to a child's growth, development and well-being. Stunting in the first 1,000 days is associated with poorer performance in school, both because malnutrition affects brain development, and also because malnourished children are more likely to get sick and miss school.

What is maternal malnutrition?

Maternal undernutrition or chronic energy deficit is defined as having a body mass index of <18.5. Women who are undernourished at the time of conception are unlikely to improve their nutritional status during pregnancy, when they have additional demands due to the growing fetus.

Can malnutrition cause birth defects?

Without enough nutrients, a baby is at higher risk of neural tube defects, brain damage, premature birth, underdevelopment of organs, death and more. If a child becomes malnourished in the womb, the damage can be permanent.

What is malnutrition in pregnancy?

Undernutrition in pregnancy can be defined as a maternal nutritional state in which nutrient stores and macronutrient/micronutrient intake are less than that needed to achieve optimal maternal, fetal, and newborn outcomes. It is also a risk factor for development of adverse outcomes.

How does maternal nutrition affect the birth of a baby?

Maternal nutrition during pregnancy has a pivotal role in the regulation of placental-fetal development and thereby affects the lifelong health and productivity of offspring. Suboptimal maternal nutrition yields low birth weight, with substantial effect on the short-term morbidity of the newborn. The placenta is the organ through which gases, ...

How does maternal nutrition affect placental development?

Maternal nutrition during pregnancy has a pivotal role in the regulation of placental-fetal development and thereby affects the lifelong health and productivity of offspring. Suboptimal maternal nutrition yields low birth weight, with substantial effect on the short-term morbidity ...

What is the placenta?

The placenta is the organ through which gases, nutrients, and wastes are exchanged between the maternal-fetal circulations. The size, morphology, and nutrient transfer capacity of the placenta determine the prenatal growth trajectory of the fetus to influence birth weight.

What did scientists find about fetal sheep?

Based on a study of fetal sheep, scientists funded by the National Institutes of Health believe they may have found a clue to the heightened risk of heart disease seen in people who were born at low birthweight to mothers malnourished during pregnancy. The finding one day may lead to new ways to treat or even prevent heart ...

Why is the biological pathway disabled?

The researchers have learned that an important biological pathway appears to be disabled by poor nutrition during pregnancy. A biological pathway is a series of actions among molecules in a cell that leads to a certain product or a change in a cell.

What were the causes of maternal undernutrition?

During the first half of the 20th century, chronic energy undernutrition due to low dietary intake, repeated infections, and rapid succession of pregnancy were the factors most responsible for maternal undernutrition and consequent adverse outcomes of pregnancy.

What are the factors that affect the growth of a fetal baby?

During the first half of the 20th century, chronic energy undernutrition due to low dietary intake, repeated infections, and rapid succession of pregnancy were the factors most responsible for maternal undernutrition and consequent adverse outcomes of pregnancy.

What were the causes of undernutrition in the early 20th century?

During the first half of the 20th century, chronic energy undernutrition due to low dietary intake, repeated infections, and rapid succession of pregnancy were the factors most responsible for maternal undernutrition and consequent adverse outcomes of pregnancy. Efforts to improve dietary intake, treatment of infections, ...

Is there a reduction in mild and moderate degrees of undernutrition and anemia during pregnancy?

However, there was no reduction in mild and moderate degrees of undernutrition and anemia during pregna ncy and there was no significant improvement in the course and outcome of pregnancy, or in birth weight.

When a woman gets pregnant, is it important to consult a nutritionist?

When a woman gets pregnant it is important to consult a nutritionist if you do not know how to completely include and change your diete Exercise and staying fit also becomes very important for the mother and for the baby’s healthy developmentn.

Why is nutrition important in pregnancy?

Nutrition is very important as with good nutrition the uterus becomes strong to develop a healthy placen tat Placenta is the source of all nutrition for the babyb If the placenta does not develop properly, the baby will always suffer from less nutritiono. Signs of malnutrition during pregnancy are higher in poorer countries where mothers are unable ...

What does it mean when a baby is malnourished?

Malnutrition is when the baby and in this case, the mother do not receive adequate nourishment during pregnancy. It means the baby, in the mother’s womb does not get enough nutrients to grow. It could lead to a. p.

December 2010

  • Nutrition is perhaps the most influential non-genetic factor in fetal development.1 Maternal body composition, nutritional stores, diet, and ability to deliver nutrients through the placenta determines nutrient availability for the fetus.1 Prenatal nutrition influences fetal growth, normal …
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Energy Requirements During Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding

  • During pregnancy, energy demands increase during the second and third trimesters. Women with normal body weight at onset of pregnancy need approximately an additional 340 kilocalories/ day during the second trimester and 452 kilocalories/day during the third trimester. These extra kilocalories help support adequate GWG as well as fetal growth and development (Tabl sup> Ta…
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Micronutrient Intake Related to Pregnancy Outcomes

  • In developing countries, where micronutrient deficiencies are routine, increasing micronutrient intake (by supplementation or increased micronutrient-rich food consumption) is associated with significantly increased birth size and IUGR reduction in women with low prepregnancy BMI. One study in Chile10 showed that in underweight women, infant birth weight was significantly higher …
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Disease Susceptibility

  • Accumulated evidence documents that prenatal factors predispose individuals to disease later in life. Negative environmental factors— including suboptimal maternal nutrition—may play a major role. The relationship between low birth weight and disease is an imbalance between fetal demand and maternal supply. The imbalance results in metabolic and endocrine changes, whic…
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Key Effects on Early Brain Development

  • Nutrition is a primary non-genetic factor affecting brain development. The effects of under-nutrition (and malnutrition) on the developing brain are long-lasting, leading to permanent deficits in learning and behaviour. A predominant cause of hindered fetal brain development is maternal malnutrition, including placental insufficiency. Protein seems to be the most critical element for …
See more on mednet.ca

Weaning Infants from Breast Milk

  • The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) describes infant weaning as a natural but complex process during development, involving nutritional, immunological, biochemical and psychological components. Natural weaning occurs when an infant accepts nutrition from sources other than breast milk. Common reasons given by mothers (or cited by mothers) for mother-led (planned) …
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Dietary Nucleotide Supplementation

  • Nucleotides are essential RNA and DNA components in all cells and are said to be important for maturation of the gastrointestinal tract, development of neonatal immune function and growth, and reduced incidence of infant diarrhea. Dietary nucleotide supplementation in infants may be necessary to enhance nucleotide synthesis.21 Nucleotides are available in human milk at conce…
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