# data[].attributes.headline
Description of
nutrition as a risk factor for maternal health 

# data[].attributes.subject
Description of
nutrition as a risk factor for maternal health 

# data[].attributes.body
The mother can experience lots of discomforts throughout her pregnancy such as nausea and vomiting. While it is important to have a nutritious diet while pregnant during the first few weeks it is more important to eat what the mother can keep down so the vomiting stops. Women that are pregnant have higher risks of getting salmonella so it is good to stay away from foods that can trigger this such as under cooked meat and poultry and raw eggs. Pregnant women who are obese or become obese because of food cravings etc. could affect their health. They could develop gestational diabetes, overdue pregnancy, labour problems and preeclampsia. This is why during pregnancy and prior to pregnancy you have to have good nutritional intake. Micronutrient deficiencies such as calcium, iron, vitamin A and iodine can lead to poor maternal health outcomes and pregnancy complications which put the mother and baby at risk. Poor maternal weight gain during pregnancy caused by an inadequate diet, increases the risk of premature delivery, low birthweight and birth defects.  If the mother gets too much mercury from fish it could hurt you and the baby. Mercury can damage many parts of your body, including your lungs, kidneys and nervous system. It can also cause hearing and vision problems.

# data[].attributes.headline
Description of
nutrition as a risk factor for foetal health 

# data[].attributes.subject
Description of
nutrition as a risk factor for foetal health 

# data[].attributes.body
The mother should not drink while she is pregnant as it is a risk for your baby’s health. The alcohol crosses from your bloodstream through the placenta directly into your baby’s blood. Foetal alcohol syndrome affects the way a baby’s brain develops and how serious the condition is depends on how much alcohol a mother drinks during pregnancy. Miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, small birth weight are also other things that can occur if the mother drinks alcohol while pregnant. The mother has to be careful with some dairy products as the unborn baby can develop listeriosis. Listeria is a bacteria that contaminates food which can cause an infection called listeriosis. If the mother gets ill with listeria the unborn baby’s life is terminated normally or the mother could have a miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth or small birth weight, effecting the baby’s life. Babies exposed to mercury in the womb can have brain damage, hearing and vision problems.

# data[].attributes.headline
Nutrition as a
protective factor for maternal health 

# data[].attributes.subject
Nutrition as a
protective factor for maternal health 

# data[].attributes.body
A pregnant women needs to boost her nutrient intake, not her kilojoule intake. During pregnancy you absorb calcium more efficiently from your diet so your growing baby’s needs are met. More protein is needed for the maternal health as it supports your baby’s growth and changes in your own body such as increased breast tissue. A healthy balanced diet should provide enough protein for you and your baby’s health so you do not need to take supplements. The mother is fortunate that you absorb calcium easier while you are pregnant and as well as your baby needing calcium, the mother needs calcium to protect her from osteoporosis because the baby will be taking most of her calcium nutrients being absorbed. Iodine is an important mineral for the mother as it is needed for the production of thyroid hormone, which is important for growth and development of you and the baby. The mother needs an increased amount of iron during pregnancy as the developing foetus draws iron from the mother to last it through the first five or six months after birth. The mother also needs iron as a source of energy. It is important for pregnant women to get enough folate (folic acid) as it helps protect against neural tube defects in the developing foetus.

# data[].attributes.headline
Nutrition as a
protective factor for foetal health 

# data[].attributes.subject
Nutrition as a
protective factor for foetal health 

# data[].attributes.body
You should be getting a sufficient amount of nutrients throughout your pregnancy to make sure you and your baby is healthy and growing properly. You need more nutrients while you are pregnant and you should be getting a sufficient amount of protein and nutrients. As well as folate, iron, iodine and zinc. The baby needs folate as it is a B vitamin found naturally in green leafy vegetables, fruit and legumes. Not having enough folate during early pregnancy has led to baby’s having a neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Iron helps the amount of blood increase to grow the baby and the placenta which is why it is sufficient for foetal health. The baby needs iodine for the development of your baby’s brain and nervous system. The baby also needs zinc because it’s essential for normal growth and development in bones, brain and many other parts of the body. Throughout pregnancy and the third trimester you baby needs calcium to build healthy bones. The food you eat can affect how your baby develops.