Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition

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.