Document Title: Nutritional status of pregnant women, factors associated with diary intakes of pregnant women

Paper code: 13034

Literature on nutritional status of pregnant women

2.1 Nutrition status of pregnant women

2.2 Food intake and nutritional status of pregnant women

2.3 Effect of social economic factors on dietary intake of pregnant women

 2.0 Introduction

The nutritional status of a woman has been found to be very important and critical as it determines and allows for a healthy pregnancy outcome (Khoushabi, 2010). Maternal intake of carbohydrates and protein, fatty acids and micronutrients such as zinc, iron, magnesium, calcium, riboflavin and vitamin C have important effects on growth of the foetus and perinatal outcomes (Baer, 2005). For maternal stores not to get depleted, the mother's diet should provide adequate nutrients.

2.1 Nutrition status of pregnant women

Pregnancy is the period of dynamic change for a mother requiring a lot of care. During this period the fetus is nourished directly by the mother through placenta, and since the baby totally relies upon its mother for nourishment, the pregnant woman is to be provided with an adequate and well-balanced diet (Mudambi, 2010), to ensure that she attains an adequate weight. Proper dietary balance is necessary to ensure sufficient energy intake for adequate growth of fetus without drawing on mother’s own tissues to maintain her pregnancy (Mridula , 2008).