Clearly The diet that the woman has during pregnancy directly affects the fetus, and herself. Poor nutrition is considered both the result of a decrease in intake and an excessive intake. Both are the result of an imbalance between the body's needs and the consumption of essential nutrients.
That is why it is so important to make the pregnant woman aware of ithe importance of a balanced, complete and sufficient diet. In this sense, always consult a specialist and do not self-impose diets. We tell you some of the consequences and effects of poor diet during pregnancy, on you and your child.
What do we call poor diet?
As it has been advanced malnutrition is considered to be an imbalance, by excess or by default between nutrient intake and the needs of the fetus and mother. In both cases there are dangers for the baby and the mother. The nutritional status of the mother must also be taken into account when she has become pregnant.
El Energy cost of pregnancy has been estimated at 76.380 kcal, which correspond, in well-nourished women to 4.780 fetal tissues, 35.800 to fat deposits and 35.800 to the need for maintenance of new tissues. The nutritionist doctor Carolina Pérez, advises that this amount of extra and necessary energy be provided from the second trimester with a supplementary intake of 200-300 kcal / day.
The most recommended foods are protein, like fish, legumes, eggs, and lean meats; dairy products, especially in late pregnancy; the rich in iron, and broad leaf vegetables, brewer's yeast, nuts and soy, rich in folic acid. Those not recommended are steak tartare, sushi, uncooked cold cuts, honey, unpasteurized dairy, vegetables and fruits not washed properly and large fish that accumulate heavy metals.
Effects of poor nutrition on the fetus
La poor maternal nutrition has many negative consequences for the health of the fetus. A deficiency in essential nutrients such as calcium, iron, folic acid or zinc can cause various problems, such as miscarriages, or premature births. Other negative effects of poor nutrition are:
- Low fetal weight and increased propensity for obesity in childhood. Children born with low weight, because they have grown up in an environment with significant nutritional deprivation, develop nutritional saving mechanisms.
- Malformations fetal. Under these conditions, the fetus can undergo organic and functional modifications to survive. With these adaptations he tries to preserve the growth and development of essential organs, especially the brain, at the expense of other organs.
- In addition to others such as: defects in brain development and of the nervous system, increased risk of suffering cardiovascular diseases in the future and behavioral problems such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
To explain the origin of the fetal macrosomia or large-for-gestational age fetuses, The theory of complex alteration in the intrauterine environment is gaining more and more force, such that glucose, amino acids and lipids play an important role in the pathophysiology of fetal development.
Effects of poor nutrition in pregnant women
A poor diet during pregnancy also has negative consequences for the mother. If there is an excess of carbohydrates, the leftovers will be transformed by the body into fats depositing in certain areas of the body. If, on the other hand, there is a deficit, the organism will obtain them from the proteins of the body's structures, with which the muscles will suffer.
The excess protein can be converted to ammonia and this to urea, being able to affect the kidney. The absence of proteins will cause that there is no replacement when they wear out, which will produce a feeling of fatigue and anemia. In addition, proteins are one of the main elements to diagnose pre-eclampsia, a serious pathology, both for the mother and the baby.
Excess fat is stored in the form of adipose tissue and will increase the level of cholesterol. But its deficit and total absence is also detrimental, since fats have a vital mediating function in the body: protect organs, transport fat-soluble vitamins, form cell membranes, etc.