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child's health doesn't necessarily begin at conception.
It begins several months before the mother becomes pregnant.
"We've seen serious issues with the nutrition of the mother," said Dr. Owen Phillips, "and we need to start talking about at least a 12-month pregnancy, not just nine months."
Before pregnancy, a mother-to-be should get into shape .
Phillips is a professor in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
"Mothers need to start taking care of their nutrition months before they get pregnant. That's so important to the baby."
The mother needs to make sure she is getting enough vitamins and nutrients early so she can provide those for the baby later.
"A lot of young mothers don't eat well, and they have no idea how to eat well," said Phillips.
"We find a low iron count in these mothers' blood. This may indicate a poor nutritional state, lead to maternal symptoms and the need for maternal transfusions if blood loss occurs at delivery."
A mother's weight can be particularly troublesome. Obesity is related to an increased risk of cesarean section, resulting in the new mother's being in a recovery mode instead of focused entirely on her new baby.
Obese patients are at increased risk for infections, blood clots and surgical complications.
Gestational diabetes is another concern. This can occur in women who have no previous history of diabetes. It affects 135,000 women a year in the United States .
Risks to the babies include large-for-gestational-age births and birth injury. Obesity is a risk factor for gestational diabetes.
Nutritional issues such as folic acid deficiency and obesity also have been linked to birth defects such as spina bifida. People suffering from spina bifida have problems ranging from being immobile in wheelchairs to organ failures and learning disabilities.
"Deficiency of folic acid is linked with other birth defects," said Phillips.
It is recommended that all women considering a pregnancy take a folic acid supplement three months prior to pregnancy and continue it at least three months into a pregnancy. More vegetables in the mother's diet are recommended as well.
Folic acid's importance is not well known to most of the young mothers-to-be.
Phillips says that there is a lack of education about nutrition and vitamins and minerals before and during pregnancy.
"We have to educate people ... there is no access to grocery stores that carry fresh produce in many of the poorer areas of the city, or transportation to markets is a barrier. And fresh vegetables are more expensive than fast foods in general. This is not all the patient's fault.
"There's nothing sadder than to see a young mother walking into our office with a 2-year-old child holding a bag of chips and Coke in their bottle, while the mother is eating a bag of Cheetos."
Maternal nutrition translates into a child's health - and it must start early.
Barbara Holden is executive director of the local First Years Institute, an organization dedicated to promoting early childhood development. The Commercial Appeal is a partner with the First Years in the effort to help parents and other caregivers learn skills that nurture and educate the minds of infants and young children. For more information on this topic, go to firstyearsinstitute.org or dial 211 for the Memphis Library link service.
(C) 2006 The Commercial Appeal Memphis, TN. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
