NUTRITION IN PREGNANCY

Lesson Duration: 53 minutes

Overall Objective

To educate clients on proper nutrition during pregnancy.

Objectives

Clients will be able to:

1. List the 6 nutrients needed by the body.
2. Identify foods that contain each type of nutrient.
3. Briefly discuss the function of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, fibre and water in the body.
4. Briefly state the importance of weight gain in pregnancy.

Resources

• Models/Diagrams of foods (meat, artificial fruits, vegetables).
• Food items.
• Measurement cup, spoon.
• Television.
• Video: Nutrition during Pregnancy.
• VCR.
• Handouts:
  1. Food Drum.
  2. Eating for Two.
  3. Take Folic Acid
• Pencils for clients.
• Writing pads or paper for clients.

Introduction:

Nutrition has a big influence on the outcome of pregnancy. The way a pregnant woman eats affects the growth and development of her baby.

Do you agree with these statements? (All suitable responses accepted. Encourage dialogue)

Pre-test

Body

Read vocabulary list. Briefly expand each term.

Define nutrients:
Nutrients are basic substances found in foods. They are proteins, carbohydrates, fats, water, vitamins and minerals. The body also needs fibre or roughage; however, since humans do not digest this it is not considered a nutrient.

Fibre or Roughage
This is needed to promote the movement of food through the digestive system and in so doing aids healthy functioning of the bowels. Along with adequate water intake, it prevents constipation and may reduce the risk of colon cancer.

Examples: Whole grain products like wheat bread, plain cheerios,
oatmeal, cream of wheat, yellow grits, fruits and vegetables.

Too little causes constipation and discomfort to the mother.

Carbohydrates
Starchy foods like dry beans and peas, pumpkin, cassava, yam, edoe (eddie) and potato. Sugary foods like cakes, sweet biscuits, tarts and fruit drinks also contain carbohydrates. However, these are the types of carbohydrate foods you would want to eat less of, because they provide very little vitamins and minerals and put unnecessary weight on you.

Function: Provides energy for the body

Too little carbohydrates can cause you to feel tired and harms the baby’s growth, due to body’s compensatory use of protein for energy instead of carbohydrates.

Protein
Examples: Meat, fish, milk, cheese, egg white and some beans and peas

Function: Needed to build muscles, organs and placenta of the baby and the muscles of the uterus of the mother.

Too little protein causes harm to the baby’s growth (Intra-Uterine Growth Retardation).

Fats
Examples: Margarine, butter, oils, mayonnaise, cod liver oil and fatty pieces of meat, greasy food.

Function: The body usually stores it to provide energy and warmth.

Many Bahamian foods have too much fat, which causes fat build-up under the skin, around the organs and in the blood vessels. This can lead to hypertension, strokes and diabetes.

Water
Examples: 100% Fruit juice, fruits and vegetables, soup and pure drinking water. Drink 7 to 9 glasses per day. One glass more than our national food guide “Food Drum” daily recommendation. It is recommended that you drink fluids such as pure water, low fat milk and 100% fruit juice.

Function: To dissolve nutrients, keep the cells and organs healthy, keep the right blood thickness and help flush poisons out the body.

Too little water causes constipation and dehydration.

Vitamins and Minerals
Examples: Fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of most vitamins and minerals.

Function: Help other nutrients to function well.

A well-balanced diet, that is, eating various foods from the entire food drum, provides all the needed vitamins for the mother and growing baby.

In this group there are 3 specific nutrients that pregnant women need to take more of. They are the minerals iron and calcium and the vitamin, folic acid.

Iron
Examples: Iron is found in both animal and plant
Sources: Animal sources include meats, liver and conch. Some plant sources are leafy green vegetables, for example, spinach cabbage, raisins, peas, beans, soybeans and nuts. The Midwife or the Doctor may also provide iron supplements. Vitamin C ensures adequate absorption of iron. Vitamin C is found in fresh fruit and raw vegetables

Function: Help make red blood cells for baby and mother.

Too little causes tiredness and “low blood” or anaemia.

Folic Acid or Folate (B-vitamins member)
Examples: Kidney beans, peas, leafy green vegetables and liver

Function: Helps healthy development of nervous system

Too little causes swelling of heart, liver and spleen in mother and congenital abnormalities in baby.

Calcium
Examples: Leafy green vegetables are an excellent source of calcium to all persons. Even though milk and dairy have a rich supply of calcium many adults, because of some degree of lactose intolerance, may not be able to digest it properly and obtain the calcium. Some milk and dairy products are low fat milk, cheese, yogurt, pudding, soy milk, calcium fortified milk. Other sources of calcium include pinto beans, sardines with bones, broccoli, salmon with bones, okra, dried figs and dark green leafy vegetables.

Function: Proper development of bones and teeth in the baby and milk production in the mother.
Too little causes poor growth of bones and teeth in the baby.

Weight Gain During Pregnancy
Weight gained during pregnancy differs from person to person. How much a pregnant woman should gain depends on her weight to height ratio before pregnancy. (Explain what is normal versus abnormal weight.) Women of average weight should gain about 25 to 35 pounds. Your health care provider would let you know what is right for you.

Healthy eating promotes healthy weight gain. Eating a well balanced diet provides all the nutrients that are needed to keep the expectant mother healthy and cause the baby to grow and develop properly. Weight gain includes that of the baby, the uterus, the placenta, blood, amniotic fluid, breast tissue and fat stores.

Two things to think about when it comes to weight gain are:

1. The kinds of foods that produce the weight gain.
2. That weight gain should increase gradually.

Keep in mind that pregnancy is not a suitable time to go on a weight loss diet!

Summary

Food contains basic ingredients, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water, minerals and vitamins. These nutrients do different things in the body. Weight gain may differ among pregnant women and depends on a woman’s weight before pregnancy. A woman who is not overweight may need to eat more.

All women may need to increase certain nutrients like, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water. Iron and folic acid supplements prescribed by the Doctor and Midwife should be taken regularly.

Avoid greasy foods as much as possible and include more fruit, vegetables and pure water in your diet.

Invite clients’ active participation in suggesting creative ways to include more fruit, vegetables and water in their diet.

Example:

• Drink pure water or unsweetened fruit juice instead of sodas and Kool-Aid.
• Snack on fruits, carrots and other vegetables.

Vocabulary (in alphabetical order)

Congenital Abnormality:

• Normal growth of baby’s organs does not occur.

Hemoglobin:

• The part of red blood cells that carry oxygen (Molecule in the red blood cell that helps to carry oxygen).

Lactation:

• Breast feeding period.

Nutrients:

• Nutrients are basic substances found in foods. They are proteins, carbohydrates, fats, water and vitamins and minerals. The body also needs fiber or roughage; however, since humans do not digest this it is not considered a nutrient.

Well-balanced Diet:

• Taking in the correct amount of nutrients found in foods in order for the body to maintain health and promote growth. The 6 nutrients are: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, water, vitamins and minerals. Each of these nutrients is used for a specific function in the body.