Third trimester

Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition 3(2+1)
Lesson 9:Maternal Nutrition

Third trimester

After about 28 to 30 weeks of gestation, an infant born prematurely (before 37 weeks of gestation) has a good chance of survival if it is cared for in a nursery for high- risk newborns. However, the infant will not contain the mineral and fat stores normally accumulated during the last month of gestation. This and other medical problems, such as a poor ability for sucking and swallowing, complicate nutritional care for prematurely born infants.

  • Pre implantation period - 2 weeks following conception.

    1. Critical period ---- If conditions are optimal, the fertilized egg divides repeatedly and implants itself in the uterine wall. The cells form into 3 layers.
    2. Nutrition should be optimal
    3. Drugs - Even simple ones can cause problems and should be avoided.
      After implantation,
      the embryo develops a placenta.
      Organ formation period: 2- 8 weeks

  • Organ formation period: 2- 8 weeks

    1. Skin and Nervous system- outer layer
    2. Muscle and internal organs- middle layer
    3. Glands and linings of various tracts- inner layer

    By 8th week:

      Premature: An infant born before 37 weeks of gestation.
      Low Birth Weight (LBW):
      Infant's weight at birth of less than 2.5kg usually because of premature birth; these infants are at higher risk for health problems.

    1. Embryo is 3 cms long
    2. Has complete nervous system
    3. A beating heart
    4. A fully formed digestive system
    5. Facial features begin to form

  • Period of rapid growth -- 8 weeks to delivery

    1. Tremendous increase in size

    Intensive growth from 15g at 12th week to 3200g at 40th week.

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Last modified: Monday, 24 October 2011, 6:35 AM