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Nutrition for the childbearing years
1School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 78227-3900, USA. Reifsnider@uthscsa.edu
Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing : JOGNN
|February 5, 2000
Summary
Maternal nutrition before and during pregnancy significantly impacts infant health. Optimal prenatal weight gain and lactation nutrition are crucial for infant development and future maternal health.
Area of Science:
- Maternal and Child Health
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Maternal nutrition before conception, during pregnancy, and during lactation is a critical determinant of both maternal and infant health outcomes.
- Recent updates in nutritional guidelines, particularly from the Institute of Medicine, highlight evolving recommendations for prenatal weight gain and nutrient intake.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a comprehensive literature review on preconceptional, prenatal, and lactation nutrition.
- To focus on and synthesize current recommendations from the Institute of Medicine regarding maternal nutrition.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature searches were performed using MEDLINE, CINAHL, and relevant government websites (National Institutes of Health, Institute of Medicine).
- Articles and reports published after 1990 were evaluated for relevance to preconceptional nutrition, prenatal nutrition, and lactation nutrition.
Main Results:
- Maternal nutritional status before and during pregnancy profoundly influences infant health, size, and growth.
- Key areas, including prenatal weight gain guidelines, vitamin and mineral requirements, and lactation nutrition, have undergone significant revisions in the past decade.
Conclusions:
- The timing and amount of maternal weight gain during pregnancy are directly linked to infant health, size, and growth.
- Maternal nutrition during lactation is essential for infant well-being and also influences a woman's long-term risk of obesity.