Effects of fetal undernutrition on child development

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Cao Thi Thanh - Pediatrician - Pediatrics - Neonatology Department - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital
A malnourished baby in the womb will face great obstacles in the development process, the risk of brain, premature birth, stillbirth, birth defects and growth retardation of the child is also much higher than normal.

1. Undernutrition in pregnancy

Fetal malnutrition, also known as fetal malnutrition, is the earliest manifestation of malnutrition. A common feature is that babies are born at full term, but often have low birth weight - less than 2.5 kg. The baby's weight is smaller than the average weight for the same gestational age.
Mothers can detect malnourished fetus early through antenatal check-ups. Based on parameters such as uterine height and waist circumference, doctors can diagnose whether the size of the abdomen is commensurate with the age of the fetus.
Besides, the level of weight gain of the mother can also partly reflect the development status of the fetus. If the baby develops normally, the pregnant woman can gain about 10-12 kg compared to before pregnancy.

2. Causes of fetal malnutrition

Fetal malnutrition can be attributed to 4 main groups of causes and causes different effects on the fetus.
2.1. Mother's nutrition Nutrition in the mother's body follows the blood, through the placenta to nourish the fetus. Fetal malnutrition is a phenomenon in which the mother's body is deficient in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals during pregnancy. This is a big cause for the baby to be malnourished in the womb.
Therefore, nutrition during pregnancy not only needs quantity, but also needs to be full of necessary nutrients. Pregnant women need to supplement fully with flour, protein, found in: meat, eggs, beans, shrimp, fish. These substances will build the child's organ systems such as the brain, central nervous system, heart, liver, lungs, digestive, respiratory, circulatory and urinary systems...
2.2. Age of the mother The body of a woman from the age of 30 onwards begins to show signs of aging, the mother does not provide the fetus with adequate nutrition as when she was young. A woman's best childbearing age is between 25 and 30 years old.
In addition, the mother's age not only affects the height and weight of the child, but also the high risk of making the fetus susceptible to birth defects. Therefore, after 35 years of age, giving birth will not be safe, it is necessary to have a antenatal check-up and check-up more thoroughly and thoroughly than usual.
2.3. Mother's Health The mother's health has a huge impact on the unborn baby.
During pregnancy, if the mother has flu, typhus or other acute infections, it is easier to give birth to babies with birth defects or thinner than usual. Therefore, during pregnancy, pregnant women must pay special attention to maintaining health, avoiding illness that affects the fetus.
2.4. Working conditions of the mother during pregnancy During pregnancy, in addition to the energy expended due to labor, the mother also has to spend a considerable part of the energy on the development of the fetus and store it to produce milk for breastfeeding later.
Therefore, if you work hard during pregnancy, pregnant women may not have enough energy to help the fetus grow, along with the risk of less milk and milk loss later on.

3. What are the effects of fetal malnutrition in utero?

Malnutrition can cause harm to the fetus such as:
Risk of premature birth, birth defects If during pregnancy, a pregnant mother notices that her lips are suddenly dry, painful and ulcerated due to heat, indicating that , the mother is lacking many important nutrients such as vitamin B12, zinc and especially folic acid. In particular, folic acid is a particularly important nutrient in the early stages of pregnancy. Folic acid deficiency can cause birth defects in the neural tube. In addition, pregnant women with low folic acid intake were twice as likely to give birth prematurely compared to those with adequate levels of this nutrient.
To supplement folic acid during pregnancy, mothers should pay attention to add dark green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, lentils. In addition, avocados, fruit juices, and fruits are also rich in folic acid.
Stillbirth If a pregnant woman is malnourished, the fetus may be stillborn or affect the health of the child. Now, although this is very rare, it still happens. Therefore, pregnant women should not ignore this consequence and need to establish a healthy diet.

Children with delayed physical development Improper nutrition also makes you born prematurely, the baby lacks many nutrients and calories. So, to ensure the health of your baby, you should consume about 2,200 calories in the first 3 months, increasing to 2,300-2,500 calories in the second and third months.
Improper diet or lack of vitamins and essential nutrients for the fetus can slow down the baby's development because of a lack of resources from the mother's body.
Pregnant women also need to eat enough green vegetables and fruits, because there will be many minerals such as iron, copper, zinc, calcium, phosphorus as well as vitamins. If you lack these things, you will have anemia, rickets, blindness due to vitamin A deficiency...
In addition, if you do not get enough essential substances such as calcium, pregnant women are likely to experience bone problems joint. Calcium is an essential nutrient for the fetus. If you don't get enough calcium, your baby will get it from your teeth and bones. This can lead to arthritis, osteoporosis, affecting the health of the pregnant mother herself.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

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