Chapter 11: Nutrition During Pregnancy and Infancy
Critical Thinking
1. Marina is 16 and is pregnant with her first child. She is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 110 pounds. She is worried about being fat after the baby is born so she tries to keep her weight gain during pregnancy to a minimum.
What problems might occur for Marina and her baby if she gains too little weight during her pregnancy?
2. Marina has breakfast at home with her mother and two brothers and has lunch in the school cafeteria. After school she often has a snack with friends and then has dinner at home. A day’s sample diet is listed below:
Sample Diet
Breakfast
Pastry
Fruit punch
Serving size
1
6 oz.
Lunch
Hamburger on bun
1 patty
1
Canned peaches 1/2 cup
Diet cola 12 oz.
Snack
Ice cream cone 1
Dinner
Chicken
Tortillas
Fruit punch
Rice
Refried beans
1 drumstick
1 cup
3
12 oz.
1/2 cup a) What is the RDA or AI for folate, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and zinc for a 16year-old pregnant woman?

b) Does Marina’s diet meet the recommendations for these nutrients? c) What is the energy content of this diet? d) Will Marina gain the recommended amount of weight if she consumes this diet throughout her pregnancy? e) What dietary changes would you make to meet the needs of the second trimester of pregnancy and to ensure a healthy pregnancy for both mother and baby?