Nutritional Status and Pregnancy
Nutritional status is a factor that, in many cases decisively the course of gestation. It is known that states of malnutrition and/or deficiency can cause alterations in the course of pregnancy, preterm delivery, fetal malformations, abortions, including some instances of severe malnutrition can cause women to situations of infertility, thus preventing fertilization.
All this has led to ensure that it is essential to proper nutrition to ensure normal during pregnancy. Currently it is recommended not only that the woman is normonutrida at the time of conception but also during pregnancy and lactation nutrition maintains a level sufficient to meet the demands of their own and those of the fetus.
How to know if the nutritional status is appropriate?
The assessment of nutritional status should be done the doctor that follows the course of pregnancy or nutritionist and they will base their diagnosis in the evaluation of the following parameters:
- Age.
- Weight.
- Chronic diseases.
- Drug use.
- Drug consumption.
- Specific analytical.
According to the American College of Obstetricians Gynecologists, have been identified as circumstances that may compromise maternal nutritional status:
- Age younger than 16 years.
- Economic situation of deprivation.
- Third pregnancy in less than two years.
- Monitoring therapeutic diet prior to pregnancy.
- Bad habits of appetite.
- Snuff consumption, alcohol or other drugs.
- Low weight in early pregnancy.
- Hematocrit <33% and hemoglobin <11 g / dl.
- Associated diseases.
- Weight gain of less than 1 kg during the first three months of pregnancy.