Pregnant’ Nutrition & Lactating Women
A woman’s nutritional status not only influences her health, but also pregnancy outcomes and the health of her fetus-neonate. Physicians and other healthcare providers need to be cognizant of nutritional needs during pregnancy, as they differ significantly compared to non-pregnant populations.
Furthermore, an individualized approach to nutritional counseling that considers a woman’s access to food, socioeconomic status, race-ethnicity and cultural food choices, and body mass index (BMI) is recommended.
In addition, many of the recommendations are geared for uncomplicated pregnancies, so adjustments need to be made when complications, such as gestational diabetes, arise. A nutritionist or registered dietitian can help facilitate dietary counseling and interventions.
In this chapter, the maternal physiological adaptations as well as macronutrient and micronutrient requirements during pregnancy and lactation will be reviewed. Other discussions on these topics will include multiple gestations, obesity in pregnancy, pregnancies after bariatric surgery, special diets, and common exposures during pregnancy.
