Introduction
Women in their prenatal and pregnancy require nutrition which has an impact on their health and development of the unborn child as well (Avalos et al., 2020). During this stage, these mothers have nutrients demanded to sustain the fetus’s growth and development, and the expectant mother’s health. The Harris-Benedict Calculator and the AMDRs (Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges) of a “typical diet” can hardly be diametrically opposite to a physically active lifestyle that requires a new and bigger diet, which adequately fits those minute nutritional demands. Consequently, pregnant women are a special population and should adapt their nutrition to achieve the best health outcomes for them and their unborn babies (Raghavan et al., 2019). Some adjustments which can be made to their diets include a high intake of folic acid, iron, and calcium, which are important to the development of the fetus. Furthermore, the selection of high nutrient-value foods that contain the more important nutrients is also an important thing (Raghavan et al., 2019). Without making proper nutritional adjustments the mother’s health and also the well-being of the fetus may be at risk driving thus home the necessity of tailored dietary interventions in pregnancy. Therefore, this paper reviews a normal diet and compares it to the dietary requirements of a pregnant individual, addressing the adjustments that are necessary for this situation, as well as the consequences of not adjusting to these changes.
Comparison of “Typical” vs Population diet AMRDs
For a typical diet, taking into account the Harris-Benedict Calculator AMDRs do not usually meet the specific needs of nutrients that positively affect the health of pregnant persons. In addition, it does not provide the required amounts of certain nutrients that the fetus or the mother needs such as folic acid, iron, calcium and protein (Avalos et al., 2020). Moreover, the diet may have much of the processed foods, sugars, and unhealthful fats that can bring about either gestational diabetes, overweight pregnancy or other complexities. On the other hand, different types of diets are necessary in the case of prenatal and pregnancy periods because the nutrients that contribute to the growth and development of the fetus are required (Avalos et al., 2020). The baby should be given the necessary dietary adjustments to avoid neural tube abnormalities, anaemia, and failure of skeleton and tissue development. Folic acid should be taken to ensure that there will be enough circulation of blood and enough calcium to aid in skeleton development. The amount of protein needed to promote the growth of tissues should also be taken into account. Moreover, women and developing children in this group must consume enough omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and choline during the development and growth phases of the brain (Avalos et al., 2020). Consequently, not only pregnant people but also everyone needs to care about the complex diet, which juxtaposes fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy products and such a diet allows pregnant women to satisfy their increased energy and nutrient demands
3Key Adjustments to maintain optimal health
One of the key diet adjustments to maintain optimum health in the prenatal or pregnancy is to make sure that the folate or folic acid is at sufficient levels which can help to prevent neural tube defects (Saunders et al., 2019). This might be accomplished by supplementation and eating foods that contain folates like they can be found in spinach, beans, citrus and grains. In addition, another major adjustment to maintain optimal change is optimizing Iron Intake (Saunders et al., 2019). In prenatal and pregnancy gestation, fetal growth and maternal well-being are important and require iron considerably to prevent anaemia in the mother. Therefore, adjustments can be made where mothers take in iron-rich foods like lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, lentils and fortified cereals. Lastly, the other key adjustment which can be done is the rising level of calcium intake (Saunders et al., 2019). Notably, calcium is a significant maternal and fetal bone development nutrient. To supplement this, mothers must include dairy and other calcareous products, such as fortified plant-based milk, green vegetables, and calcium-fortified foods into their everyday meal plans.
Description of Food/Nutrient replacement options
There are various food and nutrient replacement options which prenatal and pregnancy populations can adopt. One of these replacements is salmon which can be an alternative seafood with low-level mercury content during pregnancy since it is abundant in omega-3 fatty acids (Parker et al., 2019). Omega-3 fatty acids can promote the brain and eye development of the unborn baby and can be preferred by pregnant women because of their beneficial effects. Another replacement is Greek yoghurt enriched with protein, calcium and probiotics which can be a great replacement for processed dairy products characterized by poor nutritional quality (Parker et al., 2019). It helps in fetal bone development and digestive health. Lastly, these populations can incorporate spinach into their daily meals. Spinach is a vegetable that is dense with nutrients and provides bulky folate as well as iron along with other vitamins and minerals needed for the healthy body.
Health-related consequences of lack of diet adjustments
First, lack of diet adjustments can increase the risk of neural tube defects. Low folate levels before pregnancy may cause various neural tube defects (spina bifida and anencephaly), hence, dietary adjustments should be recommended to avert these serious birth defects (Sebastiani et al., 2019). Secondly, the fetus too may get iron deficiency causing maternal anaemia. Insufficient iron intake in pregnant women increases their anaemia rate and as a result, they develop fatigue, weakness, and eventually, possible birth complications. Regarding sufficient iron intake and a mother’s health, balanced dietary changes have an inherent role. Moreover, insufficiency in diet transformation leading to low-weight birth and early delivery also needed to be considered (Sebastiani et al., 2019). Nutritional inadequacy of the mother during pregnancy can result in low birth weight and preterm birth. That puts more infants at risk of dying or developing cognitive and neurodevelopmental disorders. For a baby to grow healthily during the gestational period, proper food supplements must be prescribed. Additionally, these populations can have gestational diabetes if they do not make dietary changes (Parker et al., 2019). An unhealthy diet that involves consuming refined carbohydrates and sugar in excess throughout pregnancy may cause gestational diabetes which will eventually increase the risk of complications for the mother and the fetus. To balanced diet with complex carbohydrates, lean proteins and unsaturated fats helps in the prevention of gestational diabetes and the management of the blood sugar level.
Conclusion
During pregnancy, the dietary needs of women are considerably different from others and therefore it calls for some modifications that help to maintain maternal health as well as unborn child growth. Among the adjustments needed are an increased intake of folic, iron, and calcium and an improved intake of nutrient-enriched foods such as vegetables, fruits and lean protein. Failure to adjust to them makes a woman vulnerable to ailments such as neural tube defects, maternal anaemia, low birth weight, and gestational diabetes. Consequently, giving proper attention to a balanced and wholesome food intake is usually needed to give the required nutrients to the mother and the fetus.
References
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Raghavan, R., Dreibelbis, C., Kingshipp, B. L., Wong, Y. P., Abrams, B., Gernand, A. D., … & Stoody, E. E. (2019). Dietary patterns before and during pregnancy and maternal outcomes: a systematic review. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 109(Supplement_1), 705S-728S.
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