Healthy Eating Starts From The Womb

Authored by: Neha Sodhi Art by: Melody Huang

Nutrition can have an impact on the human body as early as the fetal development stage.

Nutrients are passed on via a temporary organ in the mother’s uterine wall called the placenta. The umbilical cord functions as a transport system, transferring nutrients, oxygen, and hormones from the mother to the baby, while waste and carbon dioxide exit from the baby [1]. Overall, maternal nutrition plays a vital role in fetal development as it is the sole source of food for the fetus. Hence it is crucial that pregnant mothers follow a healthy and nutritious diet. 

To understand why policymakers need to direct their attention to maternal nutrition, one must consider the impacts of inadequate nutritional intake and insufficient consumption of whole foods. Studies have shown that maternal malnutrition plays a significant role in contributing to “poor fetal growth, low birthweight, and infant morbidity and mortality”, with the potential for causing “long term, irreversible and detrimental cognitive, motor, and health impairments” [2]. This harm not only greatly affects the survival rate of the baby at birth, but also negatively affects their cognitive development as toddlers and adolescents. Ultimately, the lack of proper nutrition at the infant stage can cause greater implications for lifelong and academic success, hindering one's ability to engage in daily tasks and socialize.

Aside from its impact on the development of cognition and mental processes, poor nutrition also impacts the neurodevelopment of the fetus. During neurulation, vitamin B12 is crucial in determining the proper folding of cells to develop our nervous system. Mothers with deficiencies in vitamin B12 often give birth to children with spina bifida (irregular neural folding) and impaired brain development, leading to neurological impairments later in life [3]. Additionally, this deficiency can hinder the myelination process in our nerves, which slows down the transmission of signals from sensory and motor neurons, resulting in slower processing time and slower movement. Iodine deficiency is another concern regarding the nutrition of pregnant mothers. This nutrient is important for producing thyroid hormones, which is crucial for brain development. Deficiencies can lead to memory and attention problems, impaired motor skills, and an increased risk of hearing impairments. Additional effects of iodine deficiency include potential speech and language disorders and weakened immune systems [4]. These are a few of many examples that demonstrate why focusing on nutrition during the specific months of child development is vital for the longevity and health of the child. 

While we have established the importance of vitamins as part of the diet, what’s important to consider is why these deficiencies may exist in the first place and how we can work to address any disparities. Various factors influence one’s ability to meet nutritional needs, including, but not limited to, culture, socioeconomic status, and geographical location. For example, a study done by Fernandes-Gomez et al. showed how “higher socioeconomic status is associated with a higher diet” and that “unemployed pregnant women exhibit an unhealthier, less recommended dietary profile” [5]. Age, level of education, and lifestyle all play a role in shaping dietary choices, and their influence needs to be understood when tackling the issue of poor nutrition amongst pregnant women.

To conclude, we need to understand the constraints women face daily and focus on developing interventions that would address them. Such interventions can include fortifying foods, raising awareness on the importance of nutrition, and developing free programs that make access to healthy foods easier for those who can not afford them [6].  It is imperative for policymakers to focus on maternal nutrition worldwide, as taking care of women not only supports them but ensures healthy lives for future generations. 

References:

1. Basta, M. (2023, July 24). Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis: Umbilical cord. StatPearls

   [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557389/ 

2. Imdad, A., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2012). Maternal nutrition and birth outcomes: Effect of

   balanced protein‐energy supplementation. Paediatric and Perinatal

   Epidemiology, 26(s1), 178–190.

   https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3016.2012.01308.x 

3. Dunphy, L., & Tang, A.-W. (2023). Vitamin B12 deficiency presenting with a

   pancytopenia in pregnancy. BMJ Case Reports, 16(1).

   https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2022-249955 

4. Naaz, A., & Muneshwar, K. N. (2023). How maternal nutritional and mental health

   affects child health during pregnancy: A narrative review. Cureus.

   https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.48763 

5. Fernández-Gómez, E., Luque-Vara, T., Moya-Fernández, P. J., López-Olivares, M.,

   Gallardo-Vigil, M. Á., & Enrique-Mirón, C. (2020). Factors influencing dietary

   patterns during pregnancy in a culturally diverse society. Nutrients, 12(11), 3242. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12113242

   Maternal nutrition. UNICEF. (n.d.). https://www.unicef.org/nutrition/maternal