Assignment 1

Subject: Nutrition through life cycle

Submitted by: Ghulam Anoosha
Registration no: 70100403
Submitted to: Ms. Sameen Azhar
Topic: Make a comprehensive discussion on the following
1. High risk pregnancy
2. Complication during pregnancy

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 High risk pregnancy

Definition:
A Pregnancy
characterized by risk
factors that make it likely the birth will surrounded by problems :

 premature delivery
 difficult birth
 birth defects
 restricted growth
 early infant death
A women pregnancy is consider high risk if her age is 17 or
younger, 35 or older.

High risk pregnancy factors:

Factor Condition that raises risk
Maternal weight
 Prior to pregnancy Pregnancy BMI either<18.5 or>25.
 During pregnancy Insufficient or excessive weight gain.
Previous pregnancies
 Number Many previous pregnancies(3 or
more to mother younger than 20 , 4
or more to mother age 20 or older.
Short or long interval between
 Interval pregnancies(<18 months or >59
months .

 Outcomes Previous history of problems.

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  Multiple births Twins or Triplets.
 Birth weight Low or High birth weight infants.

Maternal health
 High blood pressure Development of gestational
hypertension.
 Diabetes Development of gestational
diabetes.
 Chronic disease Diabetes , respiratory and kidney
disease.
Maternal nutrition Nutrient deficiencies or toxicities ;
eating disorder.
Socioeconomic status Poverty, lack of family support,
limited food availability.
Life style habits Smoking, alcohol or other drug use.
Age Teens, especially 15 or years or
younger; women 35 years or older.

Prevention:
 Take prenatal vitamins supplements.
 staying active.
 Eat balanced meals.
 Reducing stress.
 stop drinking Alcohol.
 Gain enough weight to support fetal growth.

Complications during pregnancy

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Complication with dietary implications:
 Diabetes
 Constipation and Hemorrhoids
 Hypertension
 Heart burn
 Leg cramps
 Edema
 Nausea and vomiting
 Food cravings and aversions
 Non food cravings

Diabetes:
Risk of diabetes depend on how good it is managed before and
during pregnancy. without well management of maternal diabetes
women face high infertility rates, and those who conceive
experience of severe hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. To
minimize these complications women need to achieve glucose
control before conception and continued glucose control
throughout pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes:
It is diagnosed after 24 weeks of gestation and may affect as
many as 5% to 10% of all pregnant women.
The most common complication during labor and delivery and a
high birth weight infant.
if the mother blood glucose is not controlled the infant is at risk of
macrosomia or infant birth weight is greater than 4000g.

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Dietary recommendations should meet the need of pregnancy
and control maternal blood glucose. Diet and exercise manage
this disease. Insulin and other supplements used which doctor
advice to take.

Constipation and Hemorrhoids:

The hormones of pregnancy alter muscle tone and the growing
fetus crowds intestinal organs a pregnant women experience
constipation. she may also develop hemorrhoids ( swollen veins
of the rectum) it can be painful during bowel movements may
cause bleeding.

Prevention:

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  eat food high in fiber like fruits, vegetables and whole
grains.
 drink maximum 8 glasses of liquid a day.
 exercise regularly.
 use laxatives if physician ask.

Nausea and vomiting:

"Morning sickness" nausea and
vomiting may occur anytime and
ranges mild queasiness to
debilitating
nausea and vomiting. severe and
continue vomiting may require
hospitalization if it results acidosis.
it may due to smell of food.

Prevention:
 eat dry toast or crackers.
 on walking, arise slowly.
 eat small meals.
 avoid food with offensive odors.

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Heart burn:
It is another common problem during
pregnancy. The hormones of
pregnancy relax the digestive
muscle and growing fetus puts
increasing pressure on mother
stomach it cause gastro esophageal
reflux it is painful sensation.

Prevention:
 relax and eat slowly
 eat small frequent meals
 drink liquid between meals
 avoid spicy or greasy foods
 chew food thoroughly
 wait 3 hours after eating before lying down

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References:
 Whitney & Rolfe's Understanding Nutrition Fifteenth edition.
 Williams Essentials of Nutrition and Diet Therapy.

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