Maternal Diet And Birth Defects
Pregnancy can be really an exciting time for most of the women. It can make some people feel anxious about what should they do and what should not for their own and their baby’s health. But when it comes to birth defects due to
maternal diet, they are common, costly, as well as critical conditions that affect at least 1 in every 33 babies born each year.
Proper nutrition before conception as well as during pregnancy can help prevent
birth defects. They are functional or structural abnormalities present at birth which cause mental and physical disabilities. They are also one among the leading causes of death in children younger than a year. But this can be avoided with proper nutrition taken by the mother and also by taking the right supplements before conception also during pregnancy. When you do this several thousand of these defects can be prevented easily! Here are some things you should know about the birth defects due to the maternal diet.
Conditions Caused By Improper Maternal Diet:
Congenital heart disease:
Pregnant women who are on a diet low in vitamin B2 –
riboflavin and vitamin B3 – niacin are at risk of having children with congenital heart disease, particularly if they eat a lot of high saturated instead of a healthy diet.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH):
Pregnant women whose diets are low in vitamin E,
vitamin B12, calcium, retinol, as well as selenium are at risk for having a child with CDH. This characterized by an opening in the child’s diaphragm that results in the contents of the abdomen protruding into the child’s thoracic cavity. You can take vitamin supplements to reduce this risk.
Gastroschisis:
The contributing factor for gastroschisis is a poor pregnancy diet. This is a birth defect in which the baby’s abdominal wall has a fissure or wise tear. Women who are in a diet low in zinc or protein and who have a low BMI –
body mass index are at a huge risk of having an infant with gastroschisis. Poor nutrition and smoking amid pregnancy can also be a cause for this.
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS):
Pregnant women should avoid alcohol in order to prevent having a baby with the
fetal alcohol syndrome. Babies that are born with FAS are poorly developed, smaller, and they might have lifelong problems.
Cleft palate:
The roof of the mouth does not completely close amid the development. Women who are on a restricted diet or who are not getting
proper nutrition, they have a greater chance of delivering the baby with cleft palate. Lack of folic acid, as well as vitamin A in the mother’s diet, are connected with isolated cleft palate means without a cleft lip.
Lack Of Vitamin B9:
- This is most commonly known as folic acid. In a mother’s diet, doctors can determine neural tube defects in the baby such as spinal anencephaly and Bifida, are the issues of the spine or brain development, the development that begins amid the first trimester of pregnancy.
- If a child is with spina bifida, his/her spinal column doesn’t close completely, that causes paralysis and nerve damage of the legs. If anencephaly occurs with a child, him/her may not survive because most parts of the brain don’t develop.
- The administration of sufficient amounts of folic acid before and amid pregnancy, during the first trimester especially, helps to prevent most of the neural tube defects.
- In the form of foods and multivitamins, the required amount of folic acid is just 400 micrograms per day that contain folate, which is the natural form of folic acid.
Food Sources:
Foods that are rich in folate are
- Leafy green vegetables
- Whole grains
- Orange juice
- Dried beans
- Peas
- Fruits
Vitamin B12:
- This is another essential vitamin to prevent the neural tube defects. The requirement for vitamin B12 is just 2.4 micrograms per day and 2.6 micrograms per day amid pregnancy.
- Women who are having a low level of B12 are having a higher risk of intestinal disorders which prevent the absorption of vitamins.
Food Sources:
- dairy products
- red meat
- chicken
- eggs.
As with folic acid, women need the essential intake of vitamin B12 prior to the conception and during the pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Women those who consume even a small amount of meat, eggs as well as dairy products can reduce these risks. Also, women with restricted or poor diet are also at risk of having a child with neural tube defects.
When you get the proper amount of nutrients which is very important for both mother and baby, you can reduce your child’s defects. Some prenatal vitamin supplements can provide the needed amount of vitamins for a mother-to-be. Especially, calcium and iron supplements are important for a developing baby. Remember, a poor maternal diet not only increases the risk for birth defects, but it also contributes to premature births and high-risk pregnancies.
