If pregnant women are malnourished, this will have an impact on the fetus

The nutritional status of pregnant women is important to determine whether a woman can pass her pregnancy well without interruption. The nutrition received by pregnant women must be sufficient, because if pregnant women are undernourished there will be many complications that may occur during pregnancy. Undernourished pregnant women will have an impact on the health of the fetus in their womb.

The problem is, the fetus that is conceived will only get nutritional intake from the mother. So if the mother does not get good nutrition, the child she is carrying will not get good nutrition either.

What causes malnutrition in pregnant women?

Malnutrition in pregnant women occurs when a pregnant woman's diet contains insufficient nutrients that do not meet her body's requirements. Malnutrition during pregnancy may occur due to several factors including:

• Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting cause a lack of appetite so that no nutrients are entered.
• Loss of appetite due to other health conditions such as chronic infections or depression.
• Use of certain drugs that can interfere with nutrient absorption.
• Inadequate intake of nutrients and calories.

Health problems that occur when pregnant women are malnourished

Pregnant women with poor nutrition will also affect their own health. Inadequate nutrition during pregnancy will cause several health problems such as anemia, feeling tired and lethargic, low productivity, and a decreased immune system so that it is prone to infection. Malnutrition in pregnant women does not only occur if a lack of macronutrient nutrients. However, this will also have a negative impact if pregnant women are deficient in micronutrient nutrients. Health problems that may occur include:

• Deficiency of zinc and magnesium can lead to preeclampsia and preterm birth.
• Lack of iron and vitamin B12 can cause anemia.
• Inadequate intake of vitamin B12 can also cause problems with the nervous system.
• Vitamin K deficiency can cause excessive bleeding during childbirth.
• Inadequate iodine intake during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage and stillbirth.

The effect of malnourished pregnant women on the fetus

Lack of nutrition in pregnant women is associated with a variety of adverse effects on the developing fetus, including slow fetal growth and low birth weight. Malnutrition during pregnancy increases the risk of:

• Stillbirth (stillborn baby)
• Born prematurely
• Perinatal mortality (death of a baby seven days after birth). Infants weighing less than 2.5 kilograms (kg) are 5 to 30 times more likely to die within the first seven days of life compared to infants with normal weight (≥2.5kg). Infants weighing less than 1.5 kg have an increased risk of death 70 to 100 times within seven days of birth.
• Disorders of the nervous, digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems.
• Birth defects
• Underdeveloped multiple organs
• Brain damage

Long-term effects of malnutrition in pregnant women

The impact of malnutrition on pregnant women varies, depending on when it occurs during pregnancy. This will have long-term effects that affect your baby's quality of life until adulthood.

Malnutrition during pregnancy can increase your baby's risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, chronic kidney failure, psychiatric disorders and organ dysfunction.

In childhood, poor development due to malnutrition can lead to underperformance in school.

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