Prenatal Nutrition: How Nutrition Affects Maternal Outcomes – News

Written by: Anna Jones
Media contact: Hannah Echols

A poor diet poses risks such as premature birth, gestational diabetes, excessive weight gain, high blood pressure and possible complications during delivery, among others.Good nutrition includes eating a healthy, balanced diet to ensure the body gets the nutrients it needs to function well. While nutrition is important at all stages of life, experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham say nutrition is especially important during pregnancy and that choosing healthier foods every day will help keep both mother and baby healthy.

A staggering 70 percent of pregnant women exceed the recommended intake of added sugars, sodium and saturated fats. In addition, more than half of women gain excess weight during pregnancy, endangering the health of both mother and child.

“This poses risks related to poor nutrition such as preterm birth, gestational diabetes, excess weight gain, hypertension disorders, and possible complications during delivery, among others,” said Camille Worthington, Ph.D., assistant professor at the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, Department of General internal medicine and population science.

Research suggests that eating a healthy diet during pregnancy can help infants become accustomed to some of these foods and flavors, which can help them accept and enjoy similar foods as they grow older. This is because flavors from the mother’s diet are transferred into the amniotic fluid and absorbed by the fetus. After birth, these flavors can be transmitted through breast milk when the baby is exposed to the foods, spices, and drinks consumed by the mother.

What to eat

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women pregnant with a fetus should consume an additional 340 calories per day beginning in the second trimester. Women with twins should eat about 600 extra calories per day, and women with triplets should eat 900 extra calories per day.

By eating healthy foods and taking a daily prenatal vitamin, women can get the vitamins and minerals they need during pregnancy. Pregnant women should focus on consuming foods containing folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D, choline, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B and vitamin C.

Foods that can help pregnant women get the vitamins and nutrients they need include:

• Meats such as chicken, beef, liver and pork. Avoid sausages.
• Eggs
• Seafood such as fatty fish including salmon, sardines and anchovies. Avoid seafood high in mercury. This table from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration explains what fish you should eat and how much fish you can safely eat.
• Beans and lentils
• fruit and vegetables
• Fortified breads and cereals
• Milk and dairy products

Here’s how to get started

According to Worthington, one of the first steps moms can take when prioritizing their diet is to start with small changes.

“It can be difficult to maintain healthy habits that you start all at once,” Worthington said. “Pick a habit that you think you can achieve, master that habit, and then slowly add other healthier habits to your routine.”

Worthington recommends taking steps to make healthy choices easier — such as keeping fruit on the counter instead of processed snacks or keeping water in the fridge instead of sugary drinks.

“When deciding what to eat, think about how you can add vegetables to your meal,” Worthington said. “For example, if you eat a box of instant macaroni and cheese for dinner, add a bag of frozen broccoli. If you eat a frozen pizza, put some vegetables on it. Small changes add up.”

Buy seasonal produce at cheaper prices or stock up on frozen or canned produce. When purchasing canned foods, look for options that are low in sodium and have no added sugar, according to Worthington. If these are not available, simply rinse canned fruits and vegetables before using to reduce the sodium and sugar content.

When eating out, focus on healthier options like grilled chicken instead of fried chicken, water instead of soda, or a side salad or cup of fruit instead of chips or chips.

Worthington recommends playing around with different spices to add flavor to healthy dishes made at home. Avoid seasoning blends that are high in sodium.

Worthington changes maternal outcomes through food delivery

With her research, Worthington is leading a groundbreaking initiative to transform maternal health through innovative nutritional interventions. Her project, “Using Self-Delivered Meals to Manage Cardiometabolic Health During Pregnancy Among Low-Income Predominantly Black Women in Alabama,” focuses on the critical issue of pregnancy, nutrition, maternal well-being, and birth outcomes among Medicaid-eligible pregnant individuals .

“The United States and Alabama have some of the highest rates of pregnancy complications, poor pregnancy outcomes and pregnancy-related maternal-infant deaths,” Worthington said. “Good nutrition is an important part of a healthy pregnancy, but not everyone has the ability to afford or access a healthy diet.”

Worthington is currently working on a study to deliver 10 free, healthy meals directly to the homes of pregnant mothers eligible for Medicaid each week so they can eat healthier, maintain a healthy weight and reduce stress. While enrollment in the study is currently closed, Worthington hopes her research shows that providing healthy meals to pregnant women can improve pregnancy outcomes and prevent mother and child from having pregnancy complications that lead to longer hospital stays.

“Healthy meal delivery can support healthier pregnancies, which supports healthier babies and ultimately healthier communities,” Worthington said.