How Eating Right Helps in Developing the Fetus

Nutrition and Pregnancy: Eating Right Helps the Developing Fetus

This paper presents a detailed discussion about the importance of proper nutrition during pregnancy. The writer includes an interview with a nutritionist as well as discussion about exercise and other health aspects of pregnancy. There were seven sources used to complete this paper.

NUTRITION AND PREGNANCY: EATING RIGHT PROVIDES THE BEST ENVIRONMENT FOR DEVELOPING FETUSES

The medical community has been aware for many years that nutrition is important during pregnancy as well as supplements and exercise. The proper nutrition and supplements help the baby develop as well as keep the mother healthy during the pregnancy. Often time’s expectant mothers are confused about their nutritional needs and they are unsure about exercise as well. It is important for the expectant mother to maintain a nutritionally healthy diet throughout the pregnancy as well as take the supplements prescribed to her.

When one becomes pregnant, one requires additional calories and additional supplements because her body is feeding the baby. It is not only important because it is what the baby draws its nutrition from, it is also important to eat well because it keeps the mother strong and healthy which in turn aids for the healthy development of the fetus. When asked experts in the field explain that nutrition, a healthy weight gain, and exercise are key components to a healthy pregnancy.

Debra Luger, an MSN. RNC maintains consuming the right amount of protein, folic acid, and following the food pyramid are vital elements of a diet during gestation. In a recent interview she gave an overview of the basics. Luger addressed the question of nutrition and replied that a healthy balance of the food pyramid was a woman’s best choice when it came to eating each day. Each food group provides vitamins and nutrients that are not only vital to the mother but to the forming fetus as well. Folic acid has recently been discovered as a key component in preventing certain defects such as spinal bifida in developing fetuses, therefore it is important to make sure one gets enough either through diet or supplements. Protein is another important factor in pregnancy according to Luger as it helps with the development of the brain and other areas of the fetus during pregnancy. Overall, said the MSN a healthy balance of all food groups will insure the pregnant mother is eating right during her pregnancy.

Luger mentioned during the interview that it is not only important to eat the right things, but it is also important to stay away from the things that are not healthy or helpful during pregnancy. These things include alcohol and high processed foods. Alcohol is the cause of fetal alcohol syndrome, which is a serious and life long disorder in babies who are born with the condition. Luger advises that the best way to prevent the syndrome is to cease all alcohol consumption while pregnant instead of trying to gauge how much is safe and how much is unsafe. In addition Luger stresses the worthless value of foods high in sodium and processing. They hold little nutritional value and they offer empty calories said Luger.

It is sometimes difficult to get enough nutritional value during pregnancy based only on the consumption of food, so Luger recommends that supplements and vitamins be utilized. The best choice according to Luger is the prescribed prenatal vitamin. It provides mega doses of extremely important vitamins and minerals that are needed during the pregnancy, including folic acid.

Weight gain allowances during pregnancy shift up and down throughout the decades. The current accepted weight gain for a pregnant woman said Luger, is between 25-30 pounds. This is based on an average sized proportionate woman. If the women are large she may be guided to gain a bit less, and if she is underweight she might be encouraged to gain additional pounds.

Luger stressed that the most important things for a woman to do during pregnancy is to follow a nutritional diet, take her supplements and remain active as exercise helps promote her good health which in turn helps the baby develop well. If someone was confused about how to follow the food pyramid effectively Luger recommends they get a copy of a food plan for diabetics and follow it. According to Luger it is the best one that provides exactly what a body needs nutritionally and provides a perfect balance for them.

Coffee in moderation is okay according to the latest reports. However smoking and the consumption of alcohol is not (Hillard, 2000).

A recent study took information about babies born to concentration camp mothers indicated serious lifelong risk to babies whose moms did not receive proper nutrition or supplements during their pregnancy (Davenport, 1999).

Stein and Susser discovered that fetuses exposed to the famine early in gestation, when organs form, had an increased risk of central-nervous- system defects like spina bifida, in which the brain or spine is not fully developed. Other scientists found that a fetus starved early in development during the famine was at high risk for adult obesity. Two decades later, Stein and Susser’s son, Ezra Susser, went further. Now a pioneering epidemiologist at Columbia University, Susser examined psychiatric evaluations of adults who were Hunger Winter babies to study the theory that schizophrenia was the result of a defect in neural development. Susser and Hans Hoek in the Netherlands discovered that fetuses who received poor nutrition early in gestation were twice as likely to develop schizophrenia in adulthood as fetuses whose mothers had an adequate diet. Susser is now looking for links between prenatal nutrition and other mental illnesses. It’s a sad but revealing legacy of that season of devastation (Davenport, 1999). ”

Being pregnant should be a very special time in ones life. It’s a time for one to concentrate on being healthy because one’s health and ones child’s health depends on it. Exercise used to be discouraged during pregnancy. Now, new studies show that women who continue an exercise program during pregnancy gain a psychological lift, achieve optimal weight gain, maintain aerobic fitness, endure fewer complications, experience shorter labors and have easier deliveries. If one’re not in shape, now is not the time to start a strenuous program. If one doctor approves, one can start walking, do low impact aerobics and stretching three to four times a week. If one already in shape, one may have to modify one workout. During pregnancy the body goes through hormonal changes, which increases the laxity of the ligaments, making it easy to overstretch them. This means tennis, heavy lifting, high-speed movements, kicking and strenuous aerobics should be avoided. Whatever one include in one workout, make sure one always warm-up and remember to cool down slowly. Warming up and cooling down are extremely important to keep blood flow to the uterus from decreasing below safe levels.”

If one is going to exercise, one should exercise at least three times a week.

Don’t exercise vigorously in hot, humid weather or if one have a fever.

Don’t exceed 15 minutes if engaging in strenuous activity.

Steer clear of exercises that require prolonged breath holding, like heavy weight lifting.

Avoid jerky, bouncy motions.

Exercise on a wooden floor or a tightly carpeted surface to reduce shock and prevent slipping.

Avoid deep flexion or extension of joints.

Avoid activities that require jumping, jarring motions or rapid changes in directions.

Consult a physician if unusual symptoms appear. One should also stay away from board-diving, scuba-diving, water-skiing, contact sports, exercise at high elevation and exercises completed while on the back (Weems, 1996).

Eating a well-balanced healthy diet is essential during pregnancy. What one eats affects one and one baby. If one eat a healthy, well- balanced diet before pregnancy one only needs to add 30 grams of protein (approximately 3-6 oz serving of chicken, or fish) and about 400 calories daily. One should also take a supplement recommended by one’s doctor to get in the extra iron, folic acid and calcium one need. Iron is important because it can be stored by one’s unborn baby to help supply the iron needed through those first six months after birth. Both breast and cow’s milk are low in iron. Folic acid helps ones body produce the extra blood cells and tissue needed for one’s baby’s development. Dark green leafy vegetables along with Lima and Kidney beans are good sources of folic acid. Calcium is extremely important in building strong bones and teeth while one baby is developing. Read up on nutrition for pregnancy and please take it seriously. Don’ t drink alcohol or use drugs or medications unless they are prescribed by one doctor and they’re absolutely necessary. Invest in one child’s health by eating the right foods for both of one before it’s born (Weems, 1996). ”

There are several things a pregnant woman can do to insure a healthy fetus development. Many of the suggestions are about healthy eating and exercise. There are tips that can be applied to almost any pregnancy that will allow the mother to gain the proper nutritional supplements without eating a lot of empty calories (Pregnancy, 1999). Some of the guidelines consist of:

Start with a healthy diet

Add about 300 calories daily: To support the growing fetus, increase one usual servings of basic foods.

Fruits and vegetables: Four or more servings a day are recommended.

Breads, rice and pasta: Four or more daily servings are recommended, especially whole-grain or enriched breads and cereals.

Milk products: Four or more daily servings are recommended. Yogurt, cottage cheese, custard and cheese can substitute for milk.

Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts: Three or more daily servings. One egg equals one serving.

Foods to avoid

Too much caffeine appears to significantly lower birth weight and contribute to anemia in mother and fetus.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can harm the fetus. Heavy drinkers (four drinks or more per day) can give birth to deformed, underweight babies with fetal alcohol syndrome (Pregnancy, 1999).

Those crazy cravings

Ice cream, fruits, sweets, pickles; expectant mothers often get sudden urges for certain foods, and occasionally giving in to these cravings poses no problem (Pregnancy, 1999).

Some pregnant women develop pica, a craving for nonfood items such as soil, coal and cigarette ashes.

Weight gain during pregnancy woman of normal weight should gain about 30 pounds. Underweight women should gain about 34 pounds, overweight woman only 20 pounds (Pregnancy, 1999).

Recommended gain: 3 to 4 pounds in the first three months, 3 to 4 pounds per month for the rest of the pregnancy (Pregnancy, 1999).

Each year hundreds of thousands of women become pregnant in this nation. For many years the medical community has been aware of the importance of nutrition to a pregnancy and has set guidelines of how it wants expectant mothers to eat. Following the food pyramid guidelines and taking prenatal vitamins assures that the mother is doing everything she can nutritionally to help her baby develop healthily. Exercise in moderation is also a plus when it comes to a pregnant woman. It allows her to stay in shape and healthy which in turn provides the baby with a healthy development environment.

Nutrition and exercise are vital elements to a healthy pregnancy and as each baby comes into the world ready to take their place in society, the proper preparation during their development helps determine how much living they will get to do.

References

Kerry Hillard, Table For 2/Nutrition News For Baby And One: E-ting Well., Baby Talk, 11-01-2000, pp 83.

John Davenport, A Tragic But Telling Legacy., Newsweek, 09-27-1999, pp 53.

Christopher Weems, Tips To Be Fit: Pregnancy, Exercise & Nutrition., Atlanta Inquirer, 06-29-1996, pp PG.

Author not available, PREGNANCY AND NUTRITION: ‘One are what one eat’ takes on specialmeaning when eatting for two.., The Dallas Morning News, 09-30-1996, pp 3C.

Harvey McConnell, NUTRITION FACTOR: The maternal weight gain controversy. Vol. 35, Medical Post, 10-06-1999.

Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply

Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?

Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.

Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?

• Plagiarism free papers
• Timely delivery
• Any deadline
• Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
• Subject-relevant academic writer
• Adherence to paper instructions
• Ability to tackle bulk assignments
• Reasonable prices
• 24/7 Customer Support
• Get superb grades consistently

Online Academic Help With Different Subjects

Literature

Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.

Finance

Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.

Computer science

Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!

Psychology

While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.

Engineering

Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.

Nursing

In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.

Sociology

Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.

Business

We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!

Statistics

We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.

Law

Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.

What discipline/subjects do you deal in?

We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.

Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?

Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.

What if I don’t like the paper?

There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.

Reasons being:

• When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
• We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.

In the event that you don’t like your paper:

• The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
• We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
• Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.

Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?

Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.

What if the paper is plagiarized?

We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.

When will I get my paper?

You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.

Will anyone find out that I used your services?

We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.

How our Assignment  Help Service Works

1.      Place an order

You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.

2.      Pay for the order

Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.

3.      Track the progress

You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.

4.      Download the paper

The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.

PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!