Good Example Of Nutritional Complications In Pregnancy Research Paper

There are various nutritional complications that can occur in pregnancy. Some of the major nutritional complications include pica, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes (Brown, 2015). Pregnant women experience these complications due to improper diet during pregnancy. These complications have effects on the baby during and after pregnancy. Nutrition is very important for the pregnant mothers because the embryo grows at a very fast rate. The deficiency of a nutrient can affect the development of the embryo and lead to birth defects. There are some nutrients that are very crucial for the development of the baby. Folic acid is very crucial in the development stage of the embryo because it aids the formation of the central nervous system (VMC, 2015). Lack of iodine can hinder brain development and lead to mental retardation of the child. Lack of vitamin D can lead to weak bones. Lack of iron can affect the memory function of the child’s brain.
Pica is a pregnancy complication where a pregnant woman has cravings for items that are not food. Some of these items include dirt, paper, clay, paint chips, and ice (Brown, 2015). There is a theory that says that such cravings are due to the lack of iron. However, the theory has not been proven yet. Other pregnant women crave cornstarch or flour, and may end up eating these foods in large amounts. Large amounts can lead to blockage of the mother’s bowels, and prevent her from eating the nutrients that the baby needs. Pregnant women who suffer from pica or have cravings for unhealthy foods should seek the help of a doctor immediately. Succumbing to the consumption of such items poses a risk to the safety of the baby.
Preeclampsia is a condition that makes women experience high blood pressure as well as have urine that contain protein (ITW, 2015). Preeclampsia is accompanied by headaches, sudden increase in weight, changes in vision, and edema. Preeclampsia is experienced during pregnancy and during postpartum. The condition does not go beyond 6 weeks during postpartum. Preeclampsia is experienced under two conditions which include eclampsia and pregnancy-induced hypertension. The pregnancy-induced hypertension is considered as a mild condition. Eclampsia is a very serious case of preeclampsia, and can lead to eclamptic seizures. Eclamptic seizures should be treated immediately because they can lead to brain damage, coma, infant death, or maternal death (Brown, 2015).
There is another form of severe preeclampsia known as hemolysis elevated liver enzymes and lowered platelets (HELLP) syndrome (Brown, 2015). HELLP syndrome affects the liver and causes pain in the right shoulder and stomach. The HELLP syndrome can occur before the pregnant woman starts to experience the symptoms of preeclampsia. Many people can mistake it for gallbladder problems or flu.
Some of the complications caused by preeclampsia to the fetus include death, growth restriction, and prematurity (Brown, 2015). Growth restriction of the fetus is caused due to a reduction in the flow of blood to the placenta. The reduced flow of blood lowers the supply of nutrients and food to the fetus and leads to starvation of the fetus. The low amounts of nutrients availed to the fetus puts the baby at risk leading to premature birth. Premature birth may occur naturally or may be induced so as to protect the baby and the mother.
Various nutritional plans have been implemented so as to prevent women from suffering from preeclampsia. An increase in the intake of calcium and fiber has been seen to help in reducing the risk of preeclampsia. The women who have high risks of contracting preeclampsia are encouraged to consume plenty of vegetables, fruits, and dairy products before and during the pregnancy period. Selenium is a nutrient that helps in lowering the risk of women experiencing preeclampsia. Selenium is contained in Brazil nuts, fortified cereals, and whole grains (Brown, 2015).
Gestational diabetes refers to diabetes that is diagnosed when a woman is pregnant. Some of the women who have a high risk of suffering from gestational diabetes include obese women, women with thyroid disorders, and women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (Brown, 2015). The bodies of normal women are able to ensure that there is a steady supply of glucose to the baby. Women with gestational diabetes have excess glucose in the blood. The excess supply of glucose in the blood makes the baby to overproduce insulin so as to manage the sugar levels in its body. A high level of insulin in the body of the fetus leads to a high growth rate of the infant. As a result, the baby gains a lot of weight.
Gestational diabetes should be treated so as to reduce the risk of macrosomia and still birth. Macrosomia refers to a condition where the baby weighs more than 10 pounds. A mother with a large baby will have to give birth through caesarian section (IWT, 2015). Birth through caesarean section exposes the mother to the complications associated with surgery. Children born through caesarean section are prone to developing allergies and asthma. Shoulder dystocia is a birth complication that a macrosomic child gets due to having large shoulders during birth. This condition can permanently damage the nerve of the baby and threaten its life.
Nutritional complications in pregnancy can be managed by ensuring that the pregnant mothers eat foods that supply them with enough nutrients as required by both the mothers and the babies. There are some nutrients that are required before a woman gets pregnant. Such nutrients include folic acid. A woman who is planning to get pregnant can start eating nutritious foods early so to secure a safe environment for the baby. Pregnant women should also visit the doctor if they have strange cravings of items that are not food. Pregnant women are also advised to take moderate exercises especially in the case of gestational diabetes (IWT, 2015). Prevention is better than treating the nutritional complications.

References

Brown, L. S., (2015). Nutrition Requirements During Pregnancy. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Retrieved from: http://samples.jbpub.com/9780763777920/77920_CH01_001_024.pdf
VMC, (2015). Under-Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy. Virtual Medical Centre. Retrieved from: http://www.myvmc.com/pregnancy/under-nutrition-before-and-during-pregnancy/
ITW, (2015). Complications of Pregnancy and their Dietary Implications. Inside the Womb. Retrieved from: http://www.insidethewomb.me/page/complications-of-pregnancy-and-their-dietary-implications