Abstract
Nutrition is a modifiable factor that has a tremendous impact on healthy pregnancy outcomes. Some effects of good nutrition during pregnancy can be appreciated immediately, such as reduced risk of maternal anemia and improved maternal glucose control. Others are evident upon the birth of the infant, such as healthy birth weight and absence of congenital defects. Still other benefits of a healthy diet during pregnancy may not be apparent for years to come.
More and more evidence is coming to light supporting the fetal-origins hypothesis which theorizes that in utero conditions have profound and long-lasting effects on fetal DNA and the subsequent health of offspring (Reproduction 148:R111–R120, 2014).
Ideally, good nutrition practices should be encouraged beginning at the preconception period and continue on through pregnancy, lactation, and the postpartum period.
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Suggested Further Reading
Institute of Medicine. Weight gain during pregnancy: reexamining the guidelines. Washington: National Academies Press; 2009.
La Leche League. http://www.llli.org.
March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.org.
Maternal and Child Health Bureau. http://www.mchb.hrsa.gov.
Procter S, Campbell CG, Ames IA. Kaiser L, Allen LH. Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: nutrition and lifestyle for a healthy pregnancy outcome. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014;114:1099–103. http://www.eatrightpro.org/resource/practice/position-and-practice-papers/position-papers/nutrition-and-lifestyle-for-a-healthy-pregnancy-outcome.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Choosemyplate.gov. http://www.choosemyplate.gov.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, US Department of Agriculture. 2015–2020 Dietary guidelines for Americans. 8th ed. Washington: U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. 2015. http://www.health.gov/DietaryGuidelines.
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McKinley, M.C., Francis, J.J., Woodside, J.V. (2017). Pregnancy: Preparation for the Next Generation. In: Temple, N., Wilson, T., Bray, G. (eds) Nutrition Guide for Physicians and Related Healthcare Professionals. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49929-1_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49929-1_1
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