Good nutrition during pregnancy: The key to a child's bright futureGood nutrition of a woman during pregnancy leads to good nutrition of her child. During this time, the baby is solely dependent on the mother for nourishment that he/she needs for proper growth and development.

Pregnancy is part of the first 1000 days of the child. It is the period starting from conception until the child’s 2nd birthday. Dubbed as the “golden window of opportunity”, the first 1000 days is the period where provision of nutrition and related interventions can lead to a positive impact on the child’s overall growth and development. Good nutrition during this period can greatly affect the health and well-being of a child up to his/her adulthood.

It is also during the first 1000 days when children become vulnerable to malnutrition specially stunting. Stunting or being too short for one’s age is a consequence of prolonged malnutrition. It can cause irreversible damages to the child such as poor cognitive and physical development, reduced learning capacity and productivity, and poor health during adulthood.

Stunting is a cyclical process. Women who are stunted in childhood tend to have stunted offspring, creating an intergenerational cycle of poverty, and reduced human capital that is difficult to break. We should provide good nutrition during the first 1000 days to break the intergenerational cycle of stunting and give our children the best start to life.

How to ensure good nutrition during pregnancy?

Women should plan and prepare for their pregnancy. They should achieve a healthy weight before and during pregnancy to prevent complications for her and her child.

Pregnant women should eat a variety of foods every day with emphasis on vegetables and fruits, legumes, and other fiber-rich foods to help in digestion and prevent constipation. Use the Pinggang Pinoy as guide for the recommended quantity of each food group Go, Grow and Glow in every meal.

Mothers should take iron-folic acid supplements for 180 days to prevent anemia and birth defects. Iron and folate deficiency during pregnancy can cause irreversible changes in the baby’s brain development. Eat foods rich in iron and folate such as legumes (beans), eggs, meat, dark leafy vegetables and nuts and seeds. Eat citrus foods to help in iron absorption and avoid drinking coffee, tea, and other caffeinated drinks during meals. Also, use adequately iodized salt in meal preparation to prevent iodine deficiency. Severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy reduces the child’s IQ by about 12-13.5 points.

Pregnant women should have at least four (4) prenatal visits and should be counselled on breastfeeding. They should also give birth in a birthing facility assisted by trained health worker to ensure good health of both mother and child during and after delivery.

As Nelson Mandela said, “Children are our greatest treasure. They are our future.”. Improving maternal nutrition will help prepare the child for a better quality of life in his/her lifetime. Pregnant mothers should give their child the best start in life for a bright future by being well-nourished and healthy.

Written by NOII Theresa A. Rivas and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo

References: