Question

WEEK 9 Case Study _ Pregnancy and Lactation

Ms. Delgado is a 19-year-old woman who is 6 weeks pregnant. She is 160 cm (5 feet 3 inches) tall with an average pre-pregnancy weight of 57 kg (125 lb). Her history for chronic disorders and other serious health problems is negative. During her initial nutrition interview, Ms. Delgado indicated that the pregnancy was unplanned. She seemed especially worried about the effects of her irregular diet on the baby. As college students, she and her 21-year-old husband had erratic meals dominated by junk food. Ms. Delgado’s 24-hour diet history revealed an inadequate intake of dark green or red-yellow-orange vegetables and milk products, as well as meat or eggs and citrus fruits. The couple realized that these types of foods were an important part of a nutritious diet but felt inexperienced as cooks, and lacked the time and money to prepare healthful meals every day.

1. What nutritional deficiencies would you expect in Ms. Delgado’s diet?

2. What practical problems would you expect her to encounter in attempting to improve her diet?

3. Is Ms. Delgado’s weight within normal range? What is her BMI?

4. How many calories does Ms. Delgado require per day for her first term of pregnancy?

5. How many will she require for her 2^nd and 3^rd terms?

6. Ideally, how much weight should Ms. Delgado gain by the end of her pregnancy?

7. Describe three benefits to breastfeeding? What might some of the barriers or difficulties she might face?

Answer 1

1. Expected deficiencies are Calcium, Iron, folic acid, protein etc.

Junk food to be avoided because they are empty calorie food.

2. Being both the parent are students the following constraints to achieve balanced diet are

Unavoidable week end parties

Financial

Need to take home cooking is difficult

not determined to have balanced diet.

Exams and test will distract the plan to have good diet.

3. Ms. Delgado weight is within normal range. Her BMI is 22.1 kg/m2.

4. First trimester doesnot require extra calories. So 1800 calories balanced diet is fine. Provided food rich in folic acid to be intaken like dark leafy vegetables etc. Milk is essential for fetus bone growth

5. 2200 calories during 2nd trimester and 2400 calories during 3rd trimester are required. Iron supplements are required along with calcium sources.

6. 145 pounds approximately is expected towards the end of pregnancy.