HLSC 2P92 Chapter Notes - Chapter Nutrition during pregnancy: Macrocytic Anemia, Underweight, Iodised Salt
23 Mar 2018
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An adequate and varied preconception diet reduces the risk of problems such as nutrient deficiencies that could occur early on in the pregnancy. Inadequate folate intake during the first few weeks after conception can lead to failure of the spinal cord to close, resulting in neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. Women are encouraged to consume 400 g of folate daily, and 600 g of folate per day when pregnant. Adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle prior to conception requires women to avoid teratogens. Teratogens are substances that can cause birth defects. Maintaining a balanced and nourishing diet before conception reduces a woman"s risk of developing a nutrition-related disorder during her pregnancy. Full gestation (full-term pregnancy), lasts between 38 to 42 weeks, and is divided into three trimesters, with each trimester lasting about 13 to 14 weeks. The first trimester begins with a zygote (fertilized cell)
