SCI 228 WEEK 7 ILAB PRENATAL LIFECYCLE AND NUTRATION 202
Week 7 - Lab Assignment
SCI228
Alan Smith
Prenatal Lifecycle and Nutrition
Prenatal is define by Google as “before birth” or during pregnancy. There is no specific
age for this lifecycle, as women can birth children from early teens to their 50s. Nutrition is
important prior to conception, during pregnancy and after the birth of an infant. Pregnancies,
when full-term usually last 37-42 weeks, from the first day of the last menstrual cycle, to the day
the baby is born. This time period is divided in to three trimesters, with each one lasting between
12-14 weeks (Stickler, 2014).
By the end of the first trimester, Stickler (2014) notes that a baby will have developed all
of its organs. The mother should aim to consume the same amount of calories as before,
ensuring an adequate supply of folic acid which can help prevent neural tube defects. The
number of calories consumed daily should increase, according to Pruitt et al (2010), by 350-
400kcal during the second and third trimesters. They point out that it is important to eat nutrient-
dense foods, as macronutrient requirements increase by 50% during this time (pg. 706).
Nutrition
During pregnancy, there is an increased need by the mother for macronutrients. The extra
macronutrients are needed as the blood volume of the mother has increased. They are also
needed to support the growth of the placenta, uterus, and the fetus (Pruitt et al, 2010, pg.707), as
well as providing the mother with adequate nutrients to ensure her own health is maintained.
Macronutrients are essential during this stage of the lifecycle as they “provide necessary energy
for building tissue. They are also the building blocks for the physical form and structure of the
fetus, as well as for other pregnancy-associated” (pg.706).
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, Below are the types of micronutrients that are important during pregnancy and the
recommended daily intake:
Protein (71g): Required for cell building for both mother and baby.
Carbohydrates (175g): Provides energy to support a growing baby. Carbohydrates contain
many other nutrients including fiber.
Fat (65g): Essential for the building of new cells and tissue. Source of fuel for a newborn baby.
Folate (600ug): Required for cell division, the formation and closure of the neural tube as well
as the spinal cord and the brain. A lack of folate during pregnancy can cause macrocytic anemia
and is also linked with a “low birth weight, preterm delivery, and failure of the fetus to grow
properly” (Pruitt et al, pg. 707). Because folate is extremely important to a baby’s development,
women are advised to take a daily folic acid supplement to ensure their needs are met.
Vitamin B12 (2.6ug): Important for the development of the nervous system. It is possible that
children born to mothers who had a vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy, are at risk of
insulin resistance which can lead to obesity (Richards, n.d.).
Vitamin C (85ug): Needed for the production of collagen. The possibility of developing
preeclampsia, having a preterm birth and premature rupture of placental membranes is higher in
mothers who have a vitamin C deficiency (Puitt et al, pg.708).
Vitamin A (770ug): Too much vitamin A in the diet can cause fetal abnormalities.
Calcium (1000mg): No additional amounts of calcium are required during pregnancy, however
calcium is needed for the development and growth of the fetal skeleton.
Iron (27mg): Webmd.com suggests pregnant women need twice as much iron as before to make
extra blood. A deficiency in iron can lead to iron deficiency anemia which can cause a baby to
be born early.
This study source was downloaded by 100000842568006 from CourseHero.com on 04-16-2022 08:16:15 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/28776186/SCI228-Week-7-Labdocx/
Week 7 - Lab Assignment
SCI228
Alan Smith
Prenatal Lifecycle and Nutrition
Prenatal is define by Google as “before birth” or during pregnancy. There is no specific
age for this lifecycle, as women can birth children from early teens to their 50s. Nutrition is
important prior to conception, during pregnancy and after the birth of an infant. Pregnancies,
when full-term usually last 37-42 weeks, from the first day of the last menstrual cycle, to the day
the baby is born. This time period is divided in to three trimesters, with each one lasting between
12-14 weeks (Stickler, 2014).
By the end of the first trimester, Stickler (2014) notes that a baby will have developed all
of its organs. The mother should aim to consume the same amount of calories as before,
ensuring an adequate supply of folic acid which can help prevent neural tube defects. The
number of calories consumed daily should increase, according to Pruitt et al (2010), by 350-
400kcal during the second and third trimesters. They point out that it is important to eat nutrient-
dense foods, as macronutrient requirements increase by 50% during this time (pg. 706).
Nutrition
During pregnancy, there is an increased need by the mother for macronutrients. The extra
macronutrients are needed as the blood volume of the mother has increased. They are also
needed to support the growth of the placenta, uterus, and the fetus (Pruitt et al, 2010, pg.707), as
well as providing the mother with adequate nutrients to ensure her own health is maintained.
Macronutrients are essential during this stage of the lifecycle as they “provide necessary energy
for building tissue. They are also the building blocks for the physical form and structure of the
fetus, as well as for other pregnancy-associated” (pg.706).
This study source was downloaded by 100000842568006 from CourseHero.com on 04-16-2022 08:16:15 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/28776186/SCI228-Week-7-Labdocx/
, Below are the types of micronutrients that are important during pregnancy and the
recommended daily intake:
Protein (71g): Required for cell building for both mother and baby.
Carbohydrates (175g): Provides energy to support a growing baby. Carbohydrates contain
many other nutrients including fiber.
Fat (65g): Essential for the building of new cells and tissue. Source of fuel for a newborn baby.
Folate (600ug): Required for cell division, the formation and closure of the neural tube as well
as the spinal cord and the brain. A lack of folate during pregnancy can cause macrocytic anemia
and is also linked with a “low birth weight, preterm delivery, and failure of the fetus to grow
properly” (Pruitt et al, pg. 707). Because folate is extremely important to a baby’s development,
women are advised to take a daily folic acid supplement to ensure their needs are met.
Vitamin B12 (2.6ug): Important for the development of the nervous system. It is possible that
children born to mothers who had a vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy, are at risk of
insulin resistance which can lead to obesity (Richards, n.d.).
Vitamin C (85ug): Needed for the production of collagen. The possibility of developing
preeclampsia, having a preterm birth and premature rupture of placental membranes is higher in
mothers who have a vitamin C deficiency (Puitt et al, pg.708).
Vitamin A (770ug): Too much vitamin A in the diet can cause fetal abnormalities.
Calcium (1000mg): No additional amounts of calcium are required during pregnancy, however
calcium is needed for the development and growth of the fetal skeleton.
Iron (27mg): Webmd.com suggests pregnant women need twice as much iron as before to make
extra blood. A deficiency in iron can lead to iron deficiency anemia which can cause a baby to
be born early.
This study source was downloaded by 100000842568006 from CourseHero.com on 04-16-2022 08:16:15 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/28776186/SCI228-Week-7-Labdocx/
