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Home , Prenatal development

THE PRENATAL PRESCRIPTION

PBRC 2011

Prenatal Programming The prevailing scientific eating patterns, tendency to gain exercise. Studies show that consensus is that nutritional weight, emotional resilience, blood pressure in mothers health during intelligence, susceptibility to during pregnancy correlate imprints us for the rest of our cancer, and resistance to . directly with the blood life, and that the chronic Overall, prenatal programming pressure of their offspring in we may experience later, affects every aspect of our physical adulthood. either begin or are prevented and mental health, at every stage One example is newborns who during prenatal life. This is of our lives. have a disproportionate head- known as the Barker Hypothesis, to-waist size, a hallmark of created by Dr. David Barker. Leading researchers studying prenatal life now believe that the detrimental prenatal Barker states that our bodies are nutritional quality of the womb programming due to poor programmed by our environment is often a more nutrition, and are more likely experiences before . The important predictor for risk of to develop elevated levels of events to which we are exposed cholesterol as . than either genetic as we develop in the womb can predisposition or post-birth improve or worsen our blood influences like diet and pressure, cardiovascular health, The Ten Principles of Prenatal Planning 1.There are critical periods of continuing normal activity in the reverse the consequences of vulnerability to sub-optimal womb. programming may have their conditions for the during 4.Programming involves several own unwanted consequences. development in the womb, different structural changes in 8. react differently to occurring at different times for important organs. sub-optimal conditions than do different organs in the body. 5.The plays a key role in newborn babies or adults. 2.Programming has permanent programming. 9.The effects of programming effects that alter the body’s 6.Compensation carries a price. In may pass across generations by responses in later life and can mechanisms that do not modify susceptibility to disease. unfavorable environments, the developing baby makes attempts to involve changes in the genes. 3.Fetal development is actively compensate for deficiencies. 10.Programming has different dependent. Normal develop- effects in males and females. ment is dependent on the baby’s 7.Attempts made after birth to The Prenatal Prescription Page 2 Nutrition During Pregnancy Your nutritional status is commonly found in red fruit, and green vegeta- before conception is meat (especially ), bles. probably as important as eggs, and dried beans. A helps build your nutrition during Calcium is the main key components of the pregnancy. The building block of baby’s skin, eyes, and mother’s nutritional and teeth. It is critical for other tissues. The recom- status during pregnancy the proper function of mendation is to consume is the single most nerve cells and muscles. 800 IU daily during important factor in the The recommendation is pregnancy. It can be baby’s growth. Nutrient for 1200 to 1500 mg daily found in fruits, meats, deprivation during during pregnancy. vegetables, and dairy. pregnancy can take Prenatal growth is Calcium is found in dairy Vitamin B6 helps your a crucial part of generations to overcome. products, greens, legumes, fetal development The effects of poor baby create new tissue, that can impact and tofu. your later in nutrition vary according especially the brain. An to the trimester in which Chromium helps intake of 2.2 mg daily problems occur. to keep blood sugar at the during pregnancy is right level. An intake of recommended. It can be Over the whole course of 50 and 200 mg per day is found in eggs, whole prenatal development, recommended while grains, lean meat, the kind of nutrients “The mother’s pregnant. It is found in oatmeal, nuts, dried your child gets before whole grains, meats, and beans, peas, and bananas. nutritional status birth can affect his life- brewer’s yeast. during pregnancy is long weight, blood pres- Vitamin B12 plays a central role in the the single most sure, blood sugar profile, Zinc is important for tissue growth and the production of new DNA important factor in and cardiovascular health. reproduction of genes in every cell needs as cells the baby’s growth.” DNA. At least 15 mg a multiply. An intake of Components of a healthy day is recommended 2.0 to 2.2 mcg daily dur- diet that are vital to during pregnancy. Zinc ing pregnancy would be pregnancy include: Iron, can be found in whole required. It can be Calcium, Chromium, grains, nuts, dried beans, found in meat, fish, eggs, Zinc, Folic acid, Vitamin meat, and eggs. and cheese. A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin C. Folic Acid is vital for the Vitamin C is crucial for synthesis of DNA. Every cell repair after injury Iron is needed for a cell in your baby’s body and for the development proper blood supply to and the placenta need an of new tissues. At least increase and help the adequate supply of folic 70 mg per day during baby build his/her own acid. The recommended pregnancy would be Embrace the beauty of blood supply. The the bridge between intake is 400 mcg daily sufficient. It can be you and your child. recommendation is to during pregnancy. Folic found in fruits (esp. cit- take 30 to 60 mg per day acid can be found in rus) and dark green, leafy during pregnancy. Iron enriched flours, fresh vegetables. Page 3 Nutrition Throughout the Trimesters During the first not be the main sources of During the third trimester, a weight gain fluid since they contain a trimester, calcium of one pound a month lot of glucose. continues to be is recommended, which During the second important. The baby is means that an increase much more physically trimester, an additional in calories is not yet 300 calories more a day is demanding and he/she necessary. Iron is recommended. Protein is growing rapidly and crucial for the expansion intake, along with iron needs more nutrients of the blood supply. and calcium are crucial. daily. Frequent small Meeting folic acid Even if you do not have meals are still important. Periodic visits to requirements is very A gain of about a pound your gynecologist are gestational diabetes, you recommended important in the first a week is normal, and if during pregnancy to may have some episodes ensure proper trimester because this is you do happen to be development of the of hyperglycemia that are fetus. when the spinal cord is exacerbated by pregnancy. gaining more, never try being created. If Eat small snacks more to lose weight during the morning sickness leads often and avoid fatty or pregnancy. Wait until to vomiting, extra fluids oily foods because fats after pregnancy to go on and salts like potassium interfere with insulin a weight loss diet. will be required. activity. Concentrate on Choosing to breastfeed Consuming some sports can help in resuming complex carbohydrates “Even if you don’t drinks during this phase made with whole wheat, normal weight and would replenish the physical well being. bran, or other fiber have gestational electrolytes lost; sources. diabetes, you may however, they should have some episodes Exercise During Pregnancy of hyperglycemia that are exacerbated If exercise was part When the woman You have a history of by pregnancy.” of your normal rou- exercises, she also tine prior to preg- provides small Incompetent nancy, it is safe to physical challenges for continue even while the baby, making the Persistent bleeding pregnant. baby better able to handle stress later on Exercise fosters Poor fetal growth growth of new blood in life. Premature labor vessels and increases Also, stimulation of cells metabolic the baby in the womb Pregnancy-induced efficiency. helps aid brain hypertension development. Stimulation of the The body also learns Ruptured membrane baby in the womb helps aid brain to dissipate the heat You Should NOT Twins or a multiples development better with regular Exercise During pregnancy challenges. Pregnancy if: Page 4 The Prenatal Prescription

Conditions in Which Exercise During Pregnancy Isn’t Recommended If any of the following Early pregnancy Palpitations or any conditions exist, a bleeding other heart arrhythmia. pregnant woman should Extremely overweight probably not be or underweight for Sedentary lifestyle exercising: your height prior to pregnancy Anemia History of poor fetal Breech presentation growth after 28 weeks

There are some instances where pregnant women Drinks, Pills, and Toxic Spills should not be exercising. The fetus is very Alcohol has clearly very toxic. vulnerable. defined adverse effects Health foods, nutri- Substances can be on the and tional supplements, toxic or challenging fetus. and herbal teas can to the fetus in ways Coffee, in high doses, have ingredients that that these substances can cause problems have adverse effects are not for adults. during pregnancy. on the baby. Smoking is bad for “In 1968, scientists Some over the coun- the fetus in many ter medications can be from France were the ways. first to describe Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, in which babies are The Negative Effects of Smoking & Alcohol Use repeatedly exposed to The fetus is more oxygen levels to the baby. born with mental alcohol while in the vulnerable to the effects Smoking slows the growth retardation and physical womb.” of cigarettes than anyone of the placenta. It also abnormalities. Research else. Tobacco is a disrupts the sleep of the shows that the likelihood powerful drug which acts baby and reduces REM of in the first on the neurotransmitter sleep. trimester is doubled in system that controls the women who drink as Alcohol cuts the blood heart. It also causes little as one ounce of supple to the fetal brain constriction of blood alcohol twice a week. and affects how nerves vessels in the placenta, Also, drinking as little as communicate. In 1968, causing increased blood two drinks a week has scientists from France pressure and heart rate. shown increased were the first to describe When the mother agitation and stressful fetal alcohol syndrome When smoking during smokes, she increases the behavior in newborn pregnancy, you reduce (FAS), in which babies the amount of oxygen concentration of carbon babies. going to the baby, repeatedly exposed to which also slows the monoxide and reduces growth of the placenta alcohol in the womb are Page 5 The Negative Effects of Caffeine Caffeine is not and acts as a stimulant. coffee has been shown to eliminated as efficiently Caffeine seems to be safe potentially increase the during pregnancy and in terms of miscarriage risk of miscarriage, along the concentration can risk if you limit yourself to with interfering with the get high quickly. It one or two cups of coffee baby’s sleep patterns in speeds up cell activity a day. In high amounts, the womb. During pregnancy, caffeine seems to be safe in terms of Premature Delivery miscarriage risk if you limit yourself to Babies born before 37 would within it. The and the beginning of one or two cups of coffee daily. weeks are most common reasons labor. If the mother is considered premature. for this are infection in under enough stress, her Premature birth often the womb or birth canal, increased production of happens because the and stressful situations may cause the baby is under some sort for either the mother or level of estrogen to rise “Even if you don’t of stress. It may be that child. When the baby far sooner than it have gestational when conditions in the finds that there is no should, initiating diabetes, you may womb environment more room to grow or premature delivery. In have some episodes become overly when there is a lack of order to prevent threatening to the baby’s food or oxygen, stress premature delivery you of hyperglycemia health, the child has a hormone concentrations should avoid stress, treat that are exacerbated better chance of in the baby’s blood may all cuts and blisters by pregnancy.” surviving outside the rise, stimulating the promptly, brush and womb rather than it production of estrogen floss teeth regularly, and don’t smoke.

Birth and Beyond Recommendations The baby’s environment requires taking them. after birth influences the that the mother con- It is recommended for quality of neural connec- sume 500 more calories new mothers to use tions in the growing per day than the pre- stress reduction tech- brain. The amount & pregnancy diet. niques in their daily life. quality of is Mothers will also need Regular playing, hug- directly related to the to eat more protein, ging, touching, and talk- mother’s diet and stress calcium, iron, and fat. ing with your baby cre- Playing, hugging, levels. in Alcohol, caffeine, pain- touching, and talking ates the physical and with your baby creates breast milk beneficially killers, medications, and the physical and mental foundation upon mental foundation change the baby’s drugs pass through the which he/she will build immune system. You breast and into the baby, future security and should try to breast feed so it is very important to happiness. your child for at least follow your doctor’s the first three months. recommendations about About Pennington The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a world-renowned nutrition research center.

Mission: Sources: To promote healthier lives through research and education The Prenatal Prescription (2001) by in nutrition and preventive medicine. Peter Nathanielz The Pennington Center has several research areas, including: Clinical Obesity Research Experimental Obesity Functional Foods Pennington Biomedical Health and Performance Enhancement Research Center 6400 Perkins Road Nutrition and Chronic Diseases Baton Rouge, LA 70808 Nutrition and the Brain Dementia, Alzheimer’s and healthy aging Diet, exercise, weight loss and weight loss maintenance

Pennington Nutrition Series No 84 The research fostered in these areas can have a profound Authors impact on healthy living and on the prevention of common chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Beth Kalicki hypertension and osteoporosis. Heli J. Roy, PhD, RD Division of Education The Division of Education provides education and information to the scientific community and the public Phillip Brantley, PhD, Director about research findings, training programs and research Pennington Biomedical Research Center areas, and coordinates educational events for the public on Steven Heymsfield], MD, Executive Director various health issues. 4/11 We invite people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the exciting research studies being conducted at the Pennington Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. If you would like to take part, visit the clinical trials web page at www.pbrc.edu or call (225) 763-3000.

**The information within this newsletter has been obtained from the book: The Prenatal Prescription by Peter Nathanielsz, MD, PhD**