The body’s nutritional demands escalate during pregnancy and lactation, making it vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies. Malnutrition during pregnancy may result in various maternal complications such as anemia, premature delivery, or postpartum hemorrhage. In addition, it may adversely affect the developing fetus, increasing the risk of low birth weight and infant mortality (1). Therefore, a balanced diet is essential to ensure the safety and health of the mother and developing baby. Continue reading this post, where we explain the causes of malnutrition during pregnancy, how it can affect you and your baby, and how to prevent it.
What Is Malnutrition In Pregnancy?
Malnutrition is a serious condition that occurs when an individual’s diet contains insufficient nutrients that do not meet the requirements of her body. It can cause damage to the vital organs and can adversely affect the functioning of the body.
What Are The Causes Of Malnutrition?
Malnutrition during pregnancy may be a result of the following factors.
Health Risks For The Mother
Women who are undernourished at the time of conception may also fail to meet the increased nutritional requirements during pregnancy. It can lead to insufficient weight gain during pregnancy and increase the mortality risk. Deficiency of micronutrients during pregnancy could lead to the following:
Zinc and Magnesium deficiency could cause preeclampsia and preterm birth. Image: Shutterstock A lack of Iron and Vitamin B12 could cause anemia. Inadequate intake of Vitamin B12 can also lead to neurological issues. Vitamin K deficiency can lead to excessive bleeding during childbirth. Inadequate Iodine intake during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage and stillbirth.
Effects of malnutrition during pregnancy can be adverse.It can affect the mother’s health in the following ways:
It can lower immunity and lead to infections. It can cause anemia and weakness. It can lower productivity.
Health Risks For The Baby
According to a study, in utero malnutrition could adversely affect the growth of the baby in the early years. It can also increase his risk of suffering from obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic complications like liver disease, etc. (3). Micronutrient deficiency during pregnancy could adversely affect the baby in the following ways (4):
Iodine deficiency can cause – congenital abnormalities, neurological cretinism, mental deficiency, spastic diplegia, myxoedematous cretinism, etc. It can also increase infant mortality risk.
Low Zinc levels can cause fetal growth retardation and congenital abnormalities.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets in the fetus.
A deficiency of folate can cause neural tube defects in the infant. Image: Shutterstock
Calcium deficiency can lead to poor fetal skeletal development.
Low iron levels in the mother’s body can cause fetal growth retardation
An unbalanced diet during pregnancy could take a toll on the newborn’s health in the following ways (4):
It can lead to stillbirth.
It can cause a premature birth.
It can increase newborn mortality risk.
It can lead to neurological, respiratory, intestinal and circulatory complications in the infant.
It may lead to birth defects and brain damage.
Maternal under-nutrition can make a child prone to the following health complications, in the long run (4):
Renal dysfunction.
He may face cardiovascular issues like – hypertension, atherosclerosis, stroke, and coronary heart disease.
Osteoporosis.
Breast Cancer.
Organ dysfunction of testes, ovaries, brain, heart, liver, and small intestine, etc.
Maternal malnutrition can also negatively affect mental development and school performance of a child.
Prevention
Having a balanced diet can help you enjoy a safe pregnancy. Consume a lot of fruits and vegetables to gain vitamins, minerals and fiber. Include healthy protein sources like fish, eggs, pulses, beans, and poultry in your diet. Also, add starchy foods like cornmeal, pasta, noodles, bread, and potatoes to meet your increased carbohydrate requirement (5).
