School of Health and Life Sciences
MSc.
EFFECTS OF MATERNAL NUTRITION ON BIRTH WEIGHT
Student’s name and email
Supervisor’s name & email
1. Introduction
• Maternal malnutrition is a major problem that can have adverse
effects on both the mother and the child.
• It can lead to intrauterine growth restriction and low birth
weight, as well as premature birth and small-for-gestational-age
(SGA) infants(Kheirouri and Alizadeh, 2021).
• To reduce the risk of these negative outcomes, interventions
such as nutrition education, counseling, and access to healthy
food are necessary to improve maternal nutrition.
• Research questions
• What are the optimum levels of micronutrients and
macronutrients for pregnant women to ensure a healthy birth
weight for their child?
• How does a mother's diet during pregnancy affect her child's
birth weight in industrialized and developing nations?
• How can a scientific perspective on health be developed for
pregnant women to promote a healthy pregnancy?
2. Literature survey
• The effects of nutrition on birth weight have been extensively
studied.
• Four theories stand out in this area: the Fetal Growth Theory,
the Length of Gestation Theory, the Placenta Development
Theory, the Barker Theory, and the Phenotype Theory.
• Maternal nutrition is one of the critical elements in predicting
birth weight. Pregnant women should strive to maintain a
healthy weight and consume a nutritious diet rich in essential
vitamins and minerals(Marphatia, Wells, Reid, and Yajnik,
2022).
• Nutrients such as folic acid, iron, and calcium should be
consumed in increased quantities during pregnancy, while
consuming omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins C and E, and
reducing sugar and refined carbs is also recommended.
• Figure 1: Nutrition in Pregnancy
References
Souza, R.C.V.E., Miranda, C., Ferreira, L.B. and Dos Santos, L.C., 2021. The influence of nutrient intake during pregnancy on Baby's birth weight: a systematic review. Journal of
Tropical Pediatrics, 67(2), p.fmab034.
Marphatia, A.A., Wells, J.C., Reid, A.M. and Yajnik, C.S., 2022. Biosocial life ‐course factors associated with women's early marriage in rural India: The prospective longitudinal
Pune Maternal Nutrition Study. American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 177(1), pp.147-161.
Kheirouri, S. and Alizadeh, M., 2021. Maternal dietary diversity during pregnancy and risk of low birth weight in newborns: a systematic review. Public Health Nutrition, 24(14),
pp.4671-4681.
3. Findings / Discussion
• The findings of this study suggest that a mother's diet during
pregnancy can have a significant effect on the baby's birth
weight, and that dietary changes made during pregnancy can
have a greater impact than any changes made earlier in her
life.
• A scientific health perspective for pregnant women can help
facilitate a healthy pregnancy by providing knowledge on the
importance of maternal nutrition and the best ways to ensure
that pregnant women receive adequate nutrients.
• Furthermore, dietitians can use motivational interviewing to
uncover underlying motivations and make nutritional advice
accessible to pregnant women, taking into account personal
preferences and cultural norms.
• Modifying one's diet is the most effective way to improve and
maintain maternal nutrition, and taking nutritional supplements
consistently is associated with a lower chance of having a
baby delivered with a low birth weight(Souza, Miranda,
Ferreira, and Dos Santos, 2021).
• Despite these findings, there are several limitations to the
study, such as not considering the amount of physical activity
of the mother, the prevalence of the disease, or the quantity of
maternal nutritional stores before getting pregnant.
4. Conclusions
• Pregnant women should follow a healthy diet that includes
plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, complex
carbs, and water.
• They should limit their intake of processed foods and sugar,
as well as caffeine and alcohol.
• Regular physical activity and adequate hydration are also
important for both the mother and the baby.
• Individualized nutrition counseling from a nutritionist or dietitian
can help pregnant women meet their nutritional needs.
• Adequate maternal nutrition is essential for the baby's growth
and development, as well as for preventing low birth weight
and associated health issues.
• Further research is needed to better understand the effects of
maternal nutrition on birth weight.