Pregnant women are at perilous periods in their lives because the nutritional diet of the mother affects the growth and development of the fetus. Therefore, women need to follow a strict nutritional regimen that should be recommended by a physician to ensure that the health of the mother and the baby remains safe. In the case that pregnant women consume poor diets, there are negative effects for the baby.
Pregnant women may consume dietary supplements in excessive amounts without a physician’s recommendation including single and multiple vitamins, mineral supplements and herbal supplements (Hambridge & Krebs 2018). Some women tend to consume foods with very low calorie content and nutritional content, such as strict vegan diets, low-carbohydrate high-protein diets and macrobiotic diet. Some mothers consume non-food items based on their cravings and these non-food items have no nutritional content (Hambridge & Krebs 2018). These items include ashes, baking soda, burnt matches, clay, dust, soil, carpet fibers and ice cubes. Other nutritional risks include consumption of contaminated raw foods, refrigerated smoked sea foods, soft cheese, unpasteurized fruits and vegetable juices and undercooked meat and meat products (Hambridge & Krebs 2018).
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Pregnant women who consume foods rich in high calories and fats risk their children to development of health risks including obesity, high cholesterol and high blood sugar levels (Tahna, Mohseni, Ghajarzadeh & Shariat 2013). Under-nutrition by pregnant women early in their pregnancy can increase the risk of children becoming overweight due to developed energy efficiency in infancy. Mothers who overeat, have gestational diabetes or are overweight are more likely to have children who become overweight and may develop diabetes II (Tahna et al. 2013). Pregnant women who consume diets rich in carbohydrates and fats expose their unborn children to a preposition to heart diseases such as cardiac thrombosis and high LDL cholesterol concentration (Tahna et al. 2013). Children born with such predispositions may develop serious long-term health problems that may cause heart failure when older. Also, high LDL cholesterol concentrations may lead to diabetes II.
References
Hambridge, K. M. & Krebs, N. F. (2018). Strategies for optimizing maternal nutrition to promote infant development. Reproductive Health, 15 (1): 87-88.
Tanha, F. D., Mohseni, M., Ghajarzadeh, M. & Shariat, M. (2013). The effects of healthy diet in pregnancy. Journal of Family Reproductive Health, 7 (3): 121-125.
