1. Human Biology General unit 2
Pregnancy & health

2. Pregnancy & nutrition
Doctors recommend that there is no need to eat more food during pregnancy; rather, pregnant women should concentrate on diet quality rather than quantity
During pregnancy there is a greater need for certain nutrients, such as iron and folate, but only a small amount of extra energy is needed

3. Pregnant woman eating fresh salad, bread and cheese

5. Pregnancy & nutrition Eat mostly: Eat moderately: Eat least:
fruit and vegetables
wholegrain breads and cereals
Eat moderately:
low fat dairy foods e.g. low fat milk, cheese and yoghurt
lean meats, chicken or fish
Eat least:
foods high in sugar e.g. sweets, cakes, biscuits, soft drinks
foods high in fat e.g. margarine, butter, oil and cream
foods high in salt

6. Pregnancy & calories
Pregnant women do not need to eat for two – they should concentrate on diet quality rather than quantity
During the second and third trimesters, energy requirements increase by about 600 kJ a day . This can be covered by increasing fruit intake from 2 serves to 4 serves

7. Pregnancy & weight gain
A normal weight gain over the course of the pregnancy is around 10–13 kg. Most of this is:
the baby ~3 kg
the muscle layer of the uterus ~1 kg
the placenta ~600 g
extra breast weight ~400 g
extra blood volume ~1.2 kg
amniotic fluid ~2.6 kg

8. Pregnancy & folic acid Folic acid (folate) is one of the B vitamins.
If a woman has a deficiency of folic acid during pregnancy, there is an increased risk of having an underweight baby or a baby with a neural tube defect (e.g. spina bifida). There is also a greater risk of suffering a miscarriage.
If a woman is planning to become pregnant it is recommended that she take folic acid for at least one month before to three months after conception.

9. Good dietary sources of folic acid
Asparagus
Chickpeas
Parsley
Bran flakes
Dried beans
Peas
Broccoli
Leeks
Spinach
Brussels sprouts
Lentils
Wheatgerm
Cabbage
Oranges
Wholegrain bread
Cauliflower
Orange juice

10. Pregnancy & iron
During pregnancy some women suffer a shortage of iron and become anaemic.
The growing baby, the placenta and the extra red blood cells in the mother’s bloodstream all require extra iron.
Vitamin C helps absorb iron.
Iron supplements can cause constipation.

11. Substances pregnant women should avoidNO
Alcohol
Tobacco
Illegal drugs (e.g. cannabis, cocaine)
Uncooked meats
Foods containing unpasteurised milk (e.g. soft or blue cheeses)
Foods containing raw egg
REDUCED AMOUNTS OF
Fish that might be high in mercury, e.g. shark, swordfish, Spanish mackerel
Caffeine

12. Pregnancy & smoking
Smoking increases the level of carbon monoxide levels in the blood.
Carbon monoxide crosses the placenta and affects the oxygen supply to the baby.
This affects the baby’s development across all systems.

13. Pregnancy & smoking
There may also be some damage to the genes of the developing baby.
Smoking is associated with placental complications, increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirths, growth retardation, low birth weight, SIDS (Sudden infant death syndrome), respiratory problems, asthma and other illnesses.

14. Pregnancy & alcohol
Babies whose mothers drink alcohol during pregnancy are at risk of developing fetal alcohol syndrome.
Alcohol can affect the development of the brain at any stage of the pregnancy.
Doctors recommend that pregnant women avoid alcohol altogether.

15. Symptoms of FAS Babies with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) generally
are below average height and weight
develop slowly
display a number of abnormal facial features
show signs of varying degrees of mental retardation
experience behavioural problems.

17. Pregnancy & pharmaceuticals
Some pharmaceutical products can be dangerous during pregnancy .
Pregnant women should always seek the advice of a doctor before taking medicines.
Wellcome Library, London

18. Pregnancy & cannabis sativa
Babies exposed to cocaine and cannabis during pregnancy are more likely to have learning or behaviour problems when they are older.