Janice Jefferis is currently in her second trimester. Her first pregnancy was with her son Kamden Jefferis, he is learning how to adapt to a baby by hearing a baby cry and understanding that he will soon have a sister. The second trimester is the middle three months of pregnancy, or sixteen to twenty-four weeks within the pregnancy. During these weeks, the heartbeat continues to become stronger and the fetus begins to make sudden movements.
There are numerous health concerns when carrying a fetus. Diet and exercise are crucial when pregnant; the mother is now in control of the nutrition that is implemented to the fetus However, it is essential for those who are expecting to maintain their exercise regime before the pregnancy. “The mother’s nutrition can have a strong influence on the development of the fetus” (Santrock, 2016, p.82). When a woman is pregnant; the percentage of vitamins increase to 50 percent more than usual, sufficient vitamins and nutrients can prevent preterm babies. Janice consistently chooses her prenatal chewable tablets and vitamins as an active role in her prenatal care, maintaining a healthy pregnancy. However, there are parental factors other than maternal which can damage the fetus if the father is exposed to harmful chemicals or even drugs. “Men’s exposure to lead, radiation, certain pesticides and petrochemicals may cause abnormalities in sperm that lead to miscarriage or diseases” (Santrock, 2016, p.97). Prenatal care allows a mother to be
Vitamin E has been linked to cardiovascular disease. Common use of Tylenol or aspirin for headaches or pain is also forbidden. Aspirin is linked to Reye’s syndrome affecting the fetus’ brain and liver. Tylenol is a powerful toxin that can cause liver damage and be fatal to the fetus. It is imperative that no matter what medications a mother may be taking, once the pregnancy is confirmed, it is crucial to discontinue use, and speak with a family physician regarding continued use or not. Once a mother is pregnant, everything she eats and drinks is a form of nourishment to the fetus and is ingested through the placenta directly to the baby. It is extremely important to determine whether or not any medications are safe or may cause complications with the fetus and delivery.
The Bayley Scales of Infant Development was chosen as the course for developmental assessment. The study found that nutritional supplements have a possibility of preventing and lessening the damage of PAE in the early stages of pregnancy, known as the pre-recognition period. However, many problems with development were identified later, but were impossible to measure at six months old. This has shown that there might be a possibility to reduce the damage of alcohol on a fetus, it is best to refrain from drinking altogether.
Most pregnant woman imagine how their developing fetus looks like, what the developing fetus is doing at a particular point, and aspire to deliver a healthy baby. Most important, many prenatal and postpartum women are eager to know what she can do to help deliver a healthy baby and how to care for the newborn. Here are some advices and activities offered to a prenatal, postpartum, and future development of a child includes healthy foods, consumption of adequate water, exercise, medication awareness, and emotions.
Prenatal vitamins are recommended to prevent birth defects. A study from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill published in 2009 found that women who took vitamins before or during pregnancy had a 57 percent lower risk of miscarriage compared to women who did not take vitamins. If these pregnant women would have realized it sooner they could’ve taken prenatal vitamins to prevent it. Lack of prenatal care, being underweight or overweight, and teens under 17 years old have a greater risk of having a miscarriage.
level to detoxify it thus placing the fetus at risk” (Caleekal). A mother’s nutritional status and
Due to the loss of muscle mass, protein adequacy is also a problem in older adults because it is not advised to increase protein intake. Limited protein intake may result in vitamin A, C, D, calcium, iron, zinc, and other deficiencies (Grodner, 2012). Overall, Theresa’s small nutrient intake can result in many nutrient deficiencies.
Many people might wonder why kids are born differently than what most consider “normal.” Multiple substances are effects that cause these fetus to develop wrong and not in usual routine that is normally seen in pregnancies. If a pregnant woman chose the wrong temptation and consumed substances that are known to cause damage and can be fatal to a baby, these mothers are making the worst mistake of taking the life of their own child away before the baby can experience what life is. Carrying a baby in the womb is one of the most heaviest challenges a woman can face and many females go wrong by falling into various temptations by not having enough information in pregnancies and going on with their daily lifestyle instead of learning about instant fetal deaths.
Substance abuse has been a worldwide problem at all levels of society since the beginning of time. Attention has been made toward the use of legal and illegal substance by pregnant women over the past several decades. Almost all drugs are known to cross the placenta and have some effect on the fetus. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (2013) the first studies of the effect of substances consumed by a pregnant women to the developing fetus were identified in the 1960’s of prenatal tobacco use. These studies opened the door to further research and studies. The effects of Alcohol and opiate use have been studied since the 1970’s (Jones, Smith, 1973) and the effects of a variety of other drugs have been studied since 1979 and early 1980’s (Flinnegan, 1979).
Identification of pregnant women who are addicted to opioids facilitates provision of opioid-assisted therapy with methadone. Maternal nutrition can contribute positively to the delivery of a healthy, full-term newborn of an appropriate weight. The recommended dietary allowances for most vitamins and minerals increase during pregnancy. Therefore, provision of dietary supplements to incarcerated pregnant and breastfeeding women is recommended, as is access to a nutritious diet and timely and regular meals.
Within this assignment I am going to look at the main nutritional needs for pregnant women and adolescents and discuss the similarities and differences between their nutritional requirements.
Pregnancy is a very difficult time in a women’s life, everything that is digested, breathed, and felt affects the fetus. Teratogens are factors that cause developmental problems of an embryo. These factors include stress; toxin such as drug and cigarette use, the health and even the age of the mother can have an impact on the development of the fetus. Teratogen can cause birth defect that may lead to life long consequences to the child. I am very passionate about this topic due to the alarming increase of birth defects and abnormalities that have been occurring during my generation. In America one in every thirty-three babies are born with a defect
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). CDC study on “prenatal and infant exposure to
Did you know that diet plays a major role in baby's growth and development? The principles of healthy eating are the same during preconception period as well as pregnancy; the amount depends on your height, weight, physical activity and due date. The focus should be plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats. The important nutrients needed for a healthy maternal and fetal outcome are folic acid, iron, calcium, Vitamin D and protein.
As previously mentioned, environmental factors, such as exposure to taratogens, can affect the development of the unborn child. Broderick and Blewitt (2105) define a teratogen as “substances or agents that can cross the placental barrier and produce fetal deformities when taken or absorbed by the mother during pregnancy” (p.619). These substances include drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, pollution, stress hormones, poor nutrition, and diseases, such as AIDS. Consumption of drugs and/or alcohol can lead to low birth weight, as well as, physical, cognitive, and behavioral abnormalities. Furthermore, more recent studies are showing that exposure to pollutants can affect an individual’s development. For example, a study of the
The nine months of pregnancy are the most important in a woman's life. Changing your lifestyle to a healthier one is important because the unborn child's health relies heavily on what the mother consumes and does. Every aspect of the baby from the food it eats, to growth and development are all dependent on the mother. This implies that to avoid any risk in the growth and development of the foetus; the mother-to-be needs to change to a healthier lifestyle,