Pregnancy & Children
Childhood developmental stages include the infant (birth to 3 years), preschool (3 to 6 years), and school-age (6 to 12 years) stages. The average length of a pregnancy is 40 weeks, which is further split up into three trimesters. During both pregnancy and childhood, adequate nutrition is crucial for optimal growth and development.
Last Updated:August 16, 2022
Pregnant individuals frequently struggle with anemia, blood sugar dysregulation, depression, nausea/vomiting, high-blood-pressure, increased urinary frequency, shortness of breath, heartburn, and hair loss. Children sometimes struggle with (ADHD), autism-spectrum-disorder, asthma, eczema, digestive problems, and ear infections.
During pregnancy, consuming enough calories, protein, essential fatty acids (e.g., omega-3s), folic-acid, iodine, vitamin-d, calcium, and iron is crucial for maintaining the health of both parent and child. After birth, it is recommended that infants solely consume breast milk or formula for at least 6 months, at which point solid foods can slowly be introduced. As children grow, it is recommended that they be exposed to foods such as whole grains, fruit-and-vegetable, dairy, lean meat, and fish to ensure that a healthful dietary pattern is established.[1] Thus, getting individualized nutritional counseling from a qualified healthcare provider is beneficial.
Pregnant individuals are usually prescribed a prenatal supplement to prevent any developmental complications. These often include nutrients such as folic-acid, iodine, iron, vitamin-d, and omega-3 fatty acids. Children usually do not need dietary supplements, as they can get adequate nutrition from their diet.[1] Dietary supplements may be needed if a restrictive diet (e.g., vegan diet, vegetarian diet, gaps-diet, SCD, and AIP, is followed because it can increase the risk for nutritional deficiencies. Additionally, there is evidence that fish oil can be helpful for reducing symptoms of ADHD in children.
- ^Corkins MR, Daniels SR, de Ferranti SD, Golden NH, Kim JH, Magge SN, Schwarzenberg SJNutrition in Children and Adolescents.Med Clin North Am.(2016-Nov)
- ^Bartsch E, Medcalf KE, Park AL, Ray JG, High Risk of Pre-eclampsia Identification GroupClinical risk factors for pre-eclampsia determined in early pregnancy: systematic review and meta-analysis of large cohort studiesBMJ.(2016 Apr 19)
- ^Kaibara M, Marumoto Y, Kobayashi THemodilution and anemia in pregnancy and fetal developmentNihon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi.(1984 Oct)
- ^Clandinin MT, Chappell JE, Heim T, Swyer PR, Chance GWFatty acid utilization in perinatal de novo synthesis of tissuesEarly Hum Dev.(1981 Sep)
- ^Denomme J, Stark KD, Holub BJDirectly quantitated dietary (n-3) fatty acid intakes of pregnant Canadian women are lower than current dietary recommendationsJ Nutr.(2005 Feb)
- ^Greenberg JA, Bell SJ, Ausdal WVOmega-3 Fatty Acid supplementation during pregnancyRev Obstet Gynecol.(2008 Fall)
- ^Marx W, Ried K, McCarthy AL, Vitetta L, Sali A, McKavanagh D, Isenring LGinger-Mechanism of action in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A reviewCrit Rev Food Sci Nutr.(2017 Jan 2)
- ^Matok I, Clark S, Caritis S, Miodovnik M, Umans JG, Hankins G, Mattison DR, Koren GStudying the antiemetic effect of vitamin B6 for morning sickness: pyridoxine and pyridoxal are prodrugsJ Clin Pharmacol.(2014 Dec)
- ^ROSS JWThe vomiting of pregnancy and its managementJ Natl Med Assoc.(1948 Sep)
- ^Nuangchamnong N, Niebyl JDoxylamine succinate-pyridoxine hydrochloride (Diclegis) for the management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: an overviewInt J Womens Health.(2014 Apr 12)
- ^Yılmaz ZV, Akkaş E, Türkmen GG, Kara Ö, Yücel A, Uygur DDietary sodium and potassium intake were associated with hypertension, kidney damage and adverse perinatal outcome in pregnant women with preeclampsiaHypertens Pregnancy.(2017 Feb)
- ^Serum sodium and potassium levels in preeclampsia: A case-control study in a large tertiary hospital in Ghana
- ^Yan J, Jiang X, West AA, Perry CA, Malysheva OV, Devapatla S, Pressman E, Vermeylen F, Stabler SP, Allen RH, Caudill MAMaternal choline intake modulates maternal and fetal biomarkers of choline metabolism in humansAm J Clin Nutr.(2012 Mar 14)
- ^da Rocha CM, Kac GHigh dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 polyunsaturated acids during pregnancy and prevalence of post-partum depressionMatern Child Nutr.(2012 Jan)
- ^Fernandes FS, Tavares do Carmo MD, Herrera EInfluence of Maternal Diet During Early Pregnancy on the Fatty Acid Profile in the Fetus at Late Pregnancy in RatsLipids.(2012 Feb 26)
- ^Noakes PS, Vlachava M, Kremmyda LS, Diaper ND, Miles EA, Erlewyn-Lajeunesse M, Williams AP, Godfrey KM, Calder PCIncreased intake of oily fish in pregnancy: effects on neonatal immune responses and on clinical outcomes in infants at 6 moAm J Clin Nutr.(2012 Feb)
- ^Dunlop AL, Taylor RN, Tangpricha V, Fortunato S, Menon RMaternal vitamin D, folate, and polyunsaturated fatty acid status and bacterial vaginosis during pregnancyInfect Dis Obstet Gynecol.(2011)
- ^Jones KLThe effects of alcohol on fetal developmentBirth Defects Res C Embryo Today.(2011 Mar)
- ^Giles JJ, Bannigan JGTeratogenic and developmental effects of lithiumCurr Pharm Des.(2006)
- ^Yacobi S, Ornoy AIs lithium a real teratogen? What can we conclude from the prospective versus retrospective studies? A reviewIsr J Psychiatry Relat Sci.(2008)