Prenatal Nutrition There Is in

Prenatal Nutrition There is in the pediatric and medical professions a consensus that prenatal nutrition and other related factors have a profound and often long-lasting effect on the child. As Mead (2007) states, "It is now axiomatic that the in utero environment influences prenatal development and may trigger structural and functional changes that can persist for a lifetime." (Mead, 2007.

p.492) These assertions have also been supported new published research in the June 2007 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism on the importance of the womb and the women environment in the health of the baby. (Mead, 2007) This finding asserts that, for the first time in humans that the diet a mother consumes in late pregnancy can alter the stress response of her offspring, possibly setting the stage for greater susceptibility to cardiovascular problems and other forms of stress-related disease into adulthood.

(Mead, 2007) These findings have been supported and verified by many other studies and reports on the subject. For example, a recent study notes that there have been calls in the profession to make nutrition a distinct pediatric discipline. This is due to the fact that, "There is growing evidence that good nutritional care influences clinical outcomes and that optimal nutrition affects long-term health and development. (Van Ripper, C.

2005) The importance of nutrition on the development of the baby is also underlined by the knowledge that the essential differentiation of tissues and the formation of organs take place in the first trimester of pregnancy. It follows therefore that,".. providing the growing fetus with the best nutrition possible is essential.

Unlike a newborn, who can cry when he or she is hungry, the fetus has to hope that plenty of nutrients will make their way through the placenta" (Dolby V., 1998) Therefore, prenatal nutrition and its affect on the baby has become a central area of concern in modern pediatric nursing. This paper will explore some of the most pertinent aspects of prenatal nutrition with regard to recent research in this area.

Specific areas of nutritional concern One of the most important nutritional requirements of the early growth and development of the child in the woman is folic acid. This is evidenced by the fact that the U.S. Public Health Service,".. recommends a daily intake of 400 mcg of folic acid for all women? puberty through menopause? to prevent birth defects in their offspring" (McCollister, 2001).

There is a growing recognition among women of this fact and a survey has found that more than seventy percent of women increased folic acid intake during their pregnancy. (Dolby V. 1998) This substance can be found in foods such as brewer's yeast, orange juice, and broccoli. Another essential nutrient that is important from the baby's early development is various fats. Two of these are extremely important; namely, linoleic and omega?3 fatty acids. Prenatal intake of these nutrients has been associated with normal eye development in the child.

It has also been found that a deficiency in any of these fatty acids in the diet of the pregnant woman can also lead to various behavioral problems in the child. (Dolby V. 1998) Other essential nutrients that should be included in the prenatal diet include Choline. Choline is known as an important constituent in the creation of phospholipids, which are fats needed in cell membranes. (Dolby V.

1998) This nutrient is also important with regard to normal brain development in the baby and is associated with the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and normal memory functioning. (Dolby V. 1998) a central concern with regard to prenatal nutrition is the finding that poor or imbalanced nutrition can be a cardinal factor in the baby's brain development. A study by McCollister (2001) states, "Malnutrition [may cause] mental backwardness which cannot be corrected in later life" (McCollister B. 2001) Another important mineral that is essential in the prenatal diet is zinc.

This importance is also due to the fact that pregnant women often run the risk of zinc deficiency, which can have a concomitant affect on the fetus. Even a slight deficiency of zinc can lead to possible spontaneous abortion and "....may increase the risk of malformations of the eyes, heart, lungs, and other organs..." (Dolby V. 1998) Studies have also found that poor prenatal nutrition can lead to damage in the functioning of insulin-producing cells in pancreas.

In a study by scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center, it has been found that poor prenatal nutrition impairs the pancreas's ability to later secrete enough insulin in response to blood glucose; which can be a factor in the development of type 2 diabetes later in life. (Poor Prenatal Nutrition Permanently Damages Function of Insulin-Producing Cells...). Eriksson et al. (1999) show that there is a direct correlation between heart disease in later life and poor prenatal nutrition.

In the study entitled, a randomised controlled trial of specialist health visitor intervention for failure to thrive. The authors state that, The highest death rates from coronary heart disease occurred in boys who were thin at birth but whose weight caught up so that they had an average or above-average body mass from the age of 7 years. Death from coronary heart disease may be a consequence of poor prenatal nutrition followed by improved postnatal nutrition. Eriksson et al.,1999.

p.430) Nutritional requirements and responses to the problem One of the central nutritional and dietary requirements that experts suggest is that pregnant women should replace a diet rich in protein and low in carbohydrates with a more balanced diet. (Mead, 2007) the general recommendation is for a 'Mediterranean' diet that is biased towards fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, chicken, and seafood. An article in the International Journal of Childbirth Educators (IJCE) recommends folic acid supplements to the prenatal diet as well as extra vitamins.

However, the IJCE study also notes that vitamins should be taken with a beverage that contains vitamin C and not with milk. This is due to the fact that vitamin C enables the absorption of iron, while milk does not have this reaction. (Monti, D. 2003, p.38) Monti also notes that while fish is a good nutritional element in the diet of the pregnant woman, fish that are " higher on the food chain, such as shark, swordfish and frozen Tuna..." should be avoided due to the their high mercury content. (p.

40) In a review of the literature on expert recommendations regarding prenatal nutrition, Suitor (1999) states that sugar intake is a factor that should also be considered in the question of the mother's diet. Suitor refers to studies that have found that, ".. adolescents on the high-sugar diets gave birth to infants weighing 215-104 g less than the infants of the adolescents on the low-sugar diets.. (p.40) This article also notes the negative effects of high caffeine intake by the pregnant mother as well as the negative effects of smoking.

High levels of caffeine are linked to sudden infant death syndrome and there are reports of the effects of nicotine and caffeine consumption on maternal and fetal hemodynamics. (p.20) Suitor sums up the various studies and reports as follows: "Nutrition status, both prior to and during pregnancy, has a significant impact on pregnancy course and outcome" (p. 31). Conclusion In conclusion, the study of nutrition and the way that the prenatal diet impacts on and influences the developing baby has increased in the last decade.

This can be seen in the plethora of new studies and reports on the importance of nutrition not only on the fetus but also on the long-term impact that prenatal diet has on the later development of the child and adult. To this end, there has also been an increase of community and social awareness of the importance of nutrition and the problems that can arise as a result of certain prenatal dietary deficiencies. For example, Monti (2006) in an article entitled Community Nutrition Outreach Programs Help.