Physiological Changes during Pregnancy
Channel: Waseem Safdar
Date: 2023-04-21

Pregnancy changes the nutrient requirements of a woman, in particularly, the needs of specific micronutrients, increase to a large extent. It is important for a woman to meet these increased requirements to support a healthy pregnancy and the development of the child, long term. Research in recent years has shown that nutrition and other environmental cues that act during this specific and sensitive period of developmental plasticity, induce lasting changes on the physiology of the offspring and its long-term health and disease-risk up to adulthood and old age. Some key factors that are particularly important is the body weight of the mother at the beginning of pregnancy, the change of body weight during pregnancy, which we also call gestational weight gain, the occurrence of diabetes in pregnancy and of course, dietary and lifestyle choices. In this unit we will explore the physiological and metabolic adaptations that occur during pregnancy. And based on these considerations, we will look at the changes of nutritional requirements during the different stages of pregnancy. The focus of the unit really is the review of current evidence-based recommendations on macro and micronutrients. We'll also look at the effects of specific nutrients on pregnancy outcomes and child health. Finally, we will also explore, which lifestyle and dietary choices should be restricted or avoided to prevent adverse effects on the mother, and particularly on the unborn child.