“Fetal programming” or the “Barker Hypothesis” refers to the…

“Fetal programming” or the “Barker Hypothesis” refers to the conditions during gestation (ranging from hormone secretion to placental delivery of nutrients) that shape the health of the fetus as an adult. For example, a link has been established between low birth weight in babies and coronary heart disease and hypertension in adulthood.

The most critical times for a pregnant woman to consume adeq…

The most critical times for a pregnant woman to consume adequate amounts of folate to reduce the risk of neural tube defects are several months before conception and during the first month of pregnancy. The recommended amount of folate (or folic acid) prior to pregnancy is 400 micrograms per day.

Iron is particularly important during the final weeks of pre…

Iron is particularly important during the final weeks of pregnancy. During the final weeks, greater amounts of iron are passed through the placenta to the fetus for storage. This stored iron will be used to support red blood cell production, nerve production and other iron-dependent functions during the newborn’s initial 6 months of life when iron-poor breast milk should be the sole source of nutrition.