Question

Brooke has just found out that she’s pregnant and is so excited! She’s been dieting most of her life and now she has the opportunity to eat for two! Brooke is also planning ahead and trying to decide if she wants to breastfeed her baby or use formula. Formula seems so much easier, but breastfeeding is less messy and less expensive. Brooke plans on attending a local La Leche League meeting to explore her options.

Question 1: Explain to Brook the amount of extra kcalories she’ll need during each trimester, and how much extra carbohydrate, protein and fat she should have each day to meet her increase caloric need. Discuss what constitutes a healthy weight gain during pregnancy and the potential consequences of “eating for two” and gaining more than the recommended amount of weight. Include in your response specific data, facts, examples, key terminology and other information drawn from the textbook and at least one other supplemental source.

Courtney is in her second trimester and was dismayed to see that she’d gained 7 pounds since last week. At the doctor’s office, Courtney’s blood pressure was 140/90, and she complained that her hands and feet were so swollen that she couldn’t wear her rings and only her sandals fit. She also said that a couple of days ago, she’d had such a bad headache that her vision was blurry. Her doctor reviewed her lab results to find that her urinalysis revealed protein in her urine.

Question 2: Analyze Courtney’s symptoms and lab results and identify the conditions she’s likely suffering from. Explain the risks of these conditions for both Courtney and her baby, and what treatment options are available to control these risks. Include in your response specific data, facts, examples, key terminology and other information drawn from the textbook and at least one other supplemental source.

Answer 1

1. Brooke , as she is just pregnant she needs to know about the trimester of pregnancy.

1 st Trimester - 0 to 12 weeks

2 nd Trimester - 13 to 28 weeks

3 rd Trimester - 29 to 40 weeks

Each trimester will have different changes that takes place physiologically during pregnancy.So there need to be a need of extra calories.

So in the first trimester Brooke needs 1800 calories per day, In the second trimester she needs 2200 calories per day and in the third trimester she needs 2400 calories per day.

Healthy weight gain during pregnancy depends on the required intake of carbohydrates , proteins and fat per day. Altered amounts of intake will lead to over weight.So "eating for two" , is not a good concept.Instead eating for one with required balanced amounts is a great idea to gain weight in a health way.Usually pregnant women has to gain 11kgs of weight during pregnancy.

Daily requirements

Carbohydrates : 175 to 210 mgs

Proteins : 40 to 70 mgs

Fats : 12 to 14 mgs

Source : Text book of Obstetrics, D.C.Dutta 3rd Edition.

2. Courtneys labs and symptoms shows that she is suffering from Pregnancy Induced Hypertension that is Pre eclampsia.She has a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg.Protein levels in urine and swollen legs.

The associated risks for Courtney and her baby is mother may experience eclampsia during advanced stages with seizures.Also sudden demise of the baby takes place in the womb.Even there is a chance of abortion in early stages of fetal life.

Also high levels of blood pressure during pregnancy affects the growth of the placenta which leads to lesser supply of oxygen and nutrients to the Fetus which leads to preterm deliveries, pre mature rupture of membranes etc.

A Text book of Obstetrics, D.C. Dutta 3rd Edition.