The Period of Pregnancy and Prenatal Development - Essay Example

"The Period of Pregnancy and Prenatal Development" is a great example of a paper on pregnancy. The prenatal stage highlights the start of an individual’s life cycle, and it commences with conception. Conception is the period when a sperm fertilizes an ovary to form a solitary cell referred to as a zygote. The zygote goes through cell division to form a blastocyst that is attached to the uterine wall. The blastocyst develops into an embryo after elementary organs form. The embryo turns into a fetus at almost eight weeks after the organs have completely developed. The fetal stage is illustrated by organ maturation and placenta development. The prenatal life cycle terminates during birth, around nine months after conception (Newman, & Newman, 2012).

Nutritional Challenges

Undernutrition during this stage decreases fetal and placenta development. Studies indicate that the growth of the fetus is susceptible to maternal dietary insufficiencies of nutrients. Undernutrition may arise from minimal consumption of dietary nutrients due to vomiting or insufficient food supply. Conversely, overnutrition during or prior to pregnancy may cause enhanced danger of neonatal morbidity and mortality, and fetal growth restraint (Newman, & Newman, 2012).

Diet

Dietary requirements during this stage are dependent on the metabolism and physical activity of the mother. The mother should eat meals containing high fiber, for example, vegetables, loaves of bread, fruits, cereals, rice, and pasta. Drink and eat a minimum of four servings of calcium-rich meals and dairy products daily, guaranteeing 1000-1300 mg of calcium. Consume iron-rich foods to get 27 mg of iron. Consume strawberries, oranges, broccoli, or papaya to get 70 mg of vitamin C daily. Eat veal, dark green leafy vegetables, or legumes to acquire 0.4 mg of folic acid daily. Eat foods rich in protein to provide 12 gm protein daily. A balanced diet will provide the above minerals essential for the fetus during its development and help avert defects during birth (Newman, & Newman, 2012).

 

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