The document summarizes key information about prenatal nutrition and its impact on lifelong health. It discusses how the prenatal environment programs an individual's risk for various diseases. Optimal prenatal nutrition is important as it impacts development and long-term health outcomes. Certain vitamins and minerals are especially important during each trimester of pregnancy. Exercise during pregnancy is generally beneficial but should be avoided under certain conditions. Smoking, alcohol, and other toxic exposures during pregnancy can harm fetal development. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle before and during pregnancy can help support the growth and long-term well-being of both mother and child.

1. THE PRENATAL PRESCRIPTION
PBRC 2011
Prenatal Programming
The prevailing scientific eating patterns, tendency to gain exercise. Studies show that
consensus is that nutritional weight, emotional resilience, blood pressure in mothers
health during pregnancy intelligence, susceptibility to during pregnancy correlate
imprints us for the rest of our cancer, and resistance to infection. directly with the blood
life, and that the chronic pressure of their offspring in
Overall, prenatal programming
diseases we may experience later, adulthood.
affects every aspect of our physical
either begin or are prevented and mental health, at every stage One example is newborns who
during prenatal life. This is of our lives. have a disproportionate head-
known as the Barker Hypothesis, to-waist size, a hallmark of
created by Dr. David Barker. Leading researchers studying
detrimental prenatal
prenatal life now believe that the
Barker states that our bodies are programming due to poor
nutritional quality of the womb
programmed by our nutrition, and are more likely
environment is often a more
experiences before birth. The to develop elevated levels of
important predictor for risk of
events to which we are exposed cholesterol as adults.
heart disease than either genetic
as we develop in the womb can predisposition or post-birth
improve or worsen our blood influences like diet and
pressure, cardiovascular health,
The Ten Principles of Prenatal Planning
1.There are critical periods of continuing normal activity in the reverse the consequences of
vulnerability to sub-optimal womb. programming may have their
conditions for the fetus during own unwanted consequences.
4.Programming involves several
development in the womb, different structural changes in 8.Fetuses react differently to
occurring at different times for important organs. sub-optimal conditions than do
different organs in the body. newborn babies or adults.
5.The placenta plays a key role in
2.Programming has permanent programming. 9.The effects of programming
effects that alter the body’s may pass across generations by
responses in later life and can 6.Compensation carries a price. In
mechanisms that do not
modify susceptibility to disease. unfavorable environments, the
involve changes in the genes.
developing baby makes attempts to
3.Fetal development is actively compensate for deficiencies. 10.Programming has different
dependent. Normal develop- effects in males and females.
ment is dependent on the baby’s 7.Attempts made after birth to

2. The Prenatal Prescription
Page 2
Nutrition During Pregnancy
Your nutritional status is commonly found in red fruit, and green vegeta-
before conception is meat (especially liver), bles.
probably as important as eggs, and dried beans.
Vitamin A helps build
your nutrition during
Calcium is the main key components of the
pregnancy. The building block of bones baby’s skin, eyes, and
mother’s nutritional and teeth. It is critical for other tissues. The recom-
status during pregnancy the proper function of mendation is to consume
is the single most nerve cells and muscles. 800 IU daily during
important factor in the The recommendation is pregnancy. It can be
baby’s growth. Nutrient for 1200 to 1500 mg daily found in fruits, meats,
deprivation during
during pregnancy. vegetables, and dairy.
pregnancy can take Calcium is found in dairy
generations to overcome. Vitamin B6 helps your
Prenatal products, greens, legumes,
The effects of poor baby create new tissue,
environment can and tofu.
impact your child nutrition vary according especially the brain. An
later in life.
to the trimester in which Chromium helps insulin intake of 2.2 mg daily
problems occur. to keep blood sugar at the during pregnancy is
right level. An intake of recommended. It can be
Over the whole course of 50 and 200 mg per day is found in eggs, whole
prenatal development, recommended while grains, lean meat,
the kind of nutrients
“The mother’s pregnant. It is found in oatmeal, nuts, dried
your child gets before whole grains, meats, and beans, peas, and bananas.
nutritional status birth can affect his life-
brewer’s yeast.
during pregnancy is long weight, blood pres- Vitamin B12 plays a
sure, blood sugar profile, Zinc is important for central role in the
the single most
and cardiovascular tissue growth and the production of new DNA
important factor in reproduction of genes in every cell needs as cells
health.
the baby’s growth.” DNA. At least 15 mg a multiply. An intake of
Components of a healthy day is recommended 2.0 to 2.2 mcg daily dur-
diet that are vital to during pregnancy. Zinc ing pregnancy would be
pregnancy include: Iron, can be found in whole required. It can be
Calcium, Chromium,
grains, nuts, dried beans, found in meat, fish, eggs,
Zinc, Folic acid, Vitamin
meat, and eggs. and cheese.
A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin
B12, and Vitamin C. Folic Acid is vital for the Vitamin C is crucial for
synthesis of DNA. Every cell repair after injury
Iron is needed for a cell in your baby’s body and for the development
proper blood supply to and the placenta need an of new tissues. At least
increase and help the adequate supply of folic 70 mg per day during
baby build his/her own
Embrace the beauty of acid. The recommended pregnancy would be
blood supply. The
the bridge between intake is 400 mcg daily sufficient. It can be
you and your child. recommendation is to during pregnancy. Folic found in fruits (esp. cit-
take 30 to 60 mg per day acid can be found in rus) and dark green, leafy
during pregnancy. Iron enriched flours, fresh vegetables.

3. Page 3
Nutrition Throughout the Trimesters
During the first not be the main sources of During the third
trimester, a weight gain fluid since they contain a trimester, calcium
of one pound a month lot of glucose. continues to be
is recommended, which During the second important. The baby is
means that an increase much more physically
trimester, an additional
in calories is not yet demanding and he/she
300 calories more a day is
necessary. Iron is is growing rapidly and
recommended. Protein
crucial for the expansion needs more nutrients
intake, along with iron
of the blood supply. daily. Frequent small
and calcium are crucial.
Meeting folic acid meals are still important. Periodic visits to
Even if you do not have your gynecologist are
requirements is very A gain of about a pound
gestational diabetes, you recommended
important in the first a week is normal, and if during pregnancy to
may have some episodes ensure proper
trimester because this is you do happen to be development of the
of hyperglycemia that are fetus.
when the spinal cord is gaining more, never try
exacerbated by pregnancy.
being created. If to lose weight during the
Eat small snacks more
morning sickness leads pregnancy. Wait until
often and avoid fatty or
to vomiting, extra fluids after pregnancy to go on
oily foods because fats
and salts like potassium a weight loss diet.
interfere with insulin
will be required. Choosing to breastfeed
activity. Concentrate on
Consuming some sports can help in resuming
complex carbohydrates
drinks during this phase normal weight and “Even if you don’t
made with whole wheat,
would replenish the
bran, or other fiber
physical well being. have gestational
electrolytes lost; diabetes, you may
sources.
however, they should have some episodes
of hyperglycemia
Exercise During Pregnancy
that are exacerbated
If exercise was part When the woman You have a history of by pregnancy.”
of your normal rou- exercises, she also miscarriages
tine prior to preg- provides small Incompetent cervix
nancy, it is safe to physical challenges for
continue even while the baby, making the Persistent bleeding
pregnant. baby better able to Placental disease
handle stress later on
Exercise fosters Poor fetal growth
in life.
growth of new blood
Premature labor
vessels and increases Also, stimulation of
cells metabolic the baby in the womb Pregnancy-induced
efficiency. helps aid brain hypertension
development. Stimulation of the
The body also learns Ruptured membrane baby in the womb
helps aid brain
to dissipate the heat You Should NOT Twins or a multiples development
better with regular Exercise During pregnancy
challenges. Pregnancy if:

4. Page 4 The Prenatal Prescription
Conditions in Which Exercise During Pregnancy Isn’t Recommended
If any of the following Early pregnancy Palpitations or any
conditions exist, a bleeding other heart
pregnant woman should arrhythmia.
Extremely overweight
probably not be Sedentary lifestyle
or underweight for
exercising: prior to pregnancy
your height
Anemia History of poor fetal
Breech presentation growth
after 28 weeks
There are some
instances where
pregnant women
Drinks, Pills, and Toxic Spills
should not be
exercising. The fetus is very Alcohol has clearly very toxic.
vulnerable. defined adverse effects
Health foods, nutri-
Substances can be on the embryo and
tional supplements,
toxic or challenging fetus.
and herbal teas can
to the fetus in ways Coffee, in high doses, have ingredients that
that these substances can cause problems have adverse effects
are not for adults. during pregnancy. on the baby.
Smoking is bad for
“In 1968, scientists Some over the coun-
the fetus in many ter medications can be
from France were the ways.
first to describe Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome, in
which babies are The Negative Effects of Smoking & Alcohol Use
repeatedly exposed to The fetus is more oxygen levels to the baby. born with mental
alcohol while in the vulnerable to the effects Smoking slows the growth retardation and physical
womb.” of cigarettes than anyone of the placenta. It also abnormalities. Research
else. Tobacco is a disrupts the sleep of the shows that the likelihood
powerful drug which acts baby and reduces REM of miscarriage in the first
on the neurotransmitter sleep. trimester is doubled in
system that controls the women who drink as
Alcohol cuts the blood
heart. It also causes little as one ounce of
supple to the fetal brain
constriction of blood alcohol twice a week.
and affects how nerves
vessels in the placenta, Also, drinking as little as
communicate. In 1968,
causing increased blood two drinks a week has
scientists from France
pressure and heart rate. shown increased
were the first to describe
When the mother agitation and stressful
When smoking during fetal alcohol syndrome
smokes, she increases the behavior in newborn
pregnancy, you reduce (FAS), in which babies
the amount of oxygen concentration of carbon babies.
going to the baby, repeatedly exposed to
which also slows the monoxide and reduces
growth of the placenta
alcohol in the womb are

5. Page 5
The Negative Effects of Caffeine
Caffeine is not and acts as a stimulant. coffee has been shown to
eliminated as efficiently Caffeine seems to be safe potentially increase the
during pregnancy and in terms of miscarriage risk of miscarriage, along
the concentration can risk if you limit yourself to with interfering with the
get high quickly. It one or two cups of coffee baby’s sleep patterns in
speeds up cell activity a day. In high amounts, the womb.
During pregnancy,
caffeine seems to be
safe in terms of
Premature Delivery miscarriage risk if
you limit yourself to
Babies born before 37 would within it. The and the beginning of one or two cups of
coffee daily.
weeks gestation are most common reasons labor. If the mother is
considered premature. for this are infection in under enough stress, her
Premature birth often the womb or birth canal, increased production of
happens because the and stressful situations androgen may cause the
baby is under some sort for either the mother or level of estrogen to rise “Even if you don’t
of stress. It may be that child. When the baby far sooner than it have gestational
when conditions in the finds that there is no should, initiating diabetes, you may
womb environment more room to grow or premature delivery. In
have some episodes
become overly when there is a lack of order to prevent
threatening to the baby’s food or oxygen, stress premature delivery you of hyperglycemia
health, the child has a hormone concentrations should avoid stress, treat that are exacerbated
better chance of in the baby’s blood may all cuts and blisters by pregnancy.”
surviving outside the rise, stimulating the promptly, brush and
womb rather than it production of estrogen floss teeth regularly, and
don’t smoke.
Birth and Beyond Recommendations
The baby’s environment Breastfeeding requires taking them.
after birth influences the that the mother con- It is recommended for
quality of neural connec- sume 500 more calories new mothers to use
tions in the growing per day than the pre- stress reduction tech-
brain. The amount & pregnancy diet. niques in their daily life.
quality of breast milk is Mothers will also need
Regular playing, hug-
directly related to the to eat more protein, ging, touching, and talk-
mother’s diet and stress calcium, iron, and fat. Playing, hugging,
ing with your baby cre- touching, and talking
levels. Antibodies in Alcohol, caffeine, pain- ates the physical and with your baby creates
breast milk beneficially killers, medications, and the physical and
mental foundation upon mental foundation
change the baby’s drugs pass through the which he/she will build
immune system. You breast and into the baby, future security and
should try to breast feed so it is very important to happiness.
your child for at least follow your doctor’s
the first three months. recommendations about

6. About Pennington
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a world-renowned nutrition research center.
Mission:
Sources: To promote healthier lives through research and education
The Prenatal Prescription (2001) by in nutrition and preventive medicine.
Peter Nathanielz The Pennington Center has several research areas,
including:
Clinical Obesity Research
Experimental Obesity
Functional Foods
Pennington Biomedical
Health and Performance Enhancement
Research Center
6400 Perkins Road Nutrition and Chronic Diseases
Baton Rouge, LA 70808 Nutrition and the Brain
Dementia, Alzheimer’s and healthy aging
Diet, exercise, weight loss and weight loss
maintenance
Pennington Nutrition Series No 84 The research fostered in these areas can have a profound
Authors:
impact on healthy living and on the prevention of common
chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes,
Beth Kalicki
hypertension and osteoporosis.
Heli J. Roy, PhD, RD
Division of Education
The Division of Education provides education and
information to the scientific community and the public
Phillip Brantley, PhD, Director
about research findings, training programs and research
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
areas, and coordinates educational events for the public on
Steven Heymsfield], MD, Executive Director various health issues.
4/11
We invite people of all ages and backgrounds to participate
in the exciting research studies being conducted at the
Pennington Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. If you would
like to take part, visit the clinical trials web page at
www.pbrc.edu or call (225) 763-3000.
**The information within this newsletter has been obtained from the book: The Prenatal Prescription by Peter Nathanielsz, MD, PhD**