it gradually goes back to its original size. Tables . and . give the components of weight gain during pregnancy and recommended weight gain based on body mass index.
I TRIMESTER II TRIMESTER III TRIMESTER BIRTH Fig . Stages of pregnancy UNIT. - - Nutrition in pregnancy, lactation and infancy Table . components of weight gain during pregnancy.
Gestation (weeks) - - Foetus Placenta and amniotic fluid Maternal tissues and blood Total weight gain , , Source – Hytten, F. and Leitch, I. Physiology of Human Pregnancy, Blackwell Scientific Publishers, Oxford, London and Edinburgh, . Table .
recommended weight gain for pregnant women based on body mass index. Weight category based on BMI Total weight gain (kg) Under weight (BMI < . ) . – Normal weight ( .
– ) . – Over Weight ( – ) – . Obese (> ) . Source – B.Srilakshmi.,Dietetics., New Age International Publishers.
Your heart grows! Yes, your heart organ actually enlarges while you are pregnant. It works harder and beats at a more rapid pace due to the increased volume of blood in your body. Your blood volume alone increases by – % during pregnancy.
Due to undernourishment of the mother the baby is at an increased risk of being premature with low birth weight and development irregularities. Intrauterine nutrition is highly important for the growth of the central nervous system and kidneys of the foetus, which mature during the latter part of the pregnancy. Therefore nutrition deficits before birth can never be wholly reversed after birth. Schematic diagram, figure .
shows the relationship between maternal and foetal malnutrition. Inadequate food intake and poor nutrition utilisation Maternal Malnutrition Reduced blood volume expansion Inadequate increase in cardiac output Decreased blood and nutrient supply to the foetus Reduced placental size Reduced nutrient transfer Foetal growth retardation Fig . Relationship between maternal and foetal malnutrition. .
. Effects of under nutrition on the mother a) Maternal body size Early marriage tradition in many poor societies and pregnancy during adolescence before