Nutrition during pregnancy Latvia eng

5.  

Nutrition  during  pregnancy  

5.1   Weight  gain  

Pregnant  women  require  only  a  slight  increase  in  energy,  from  100  kcal  per  day  during  the  first  

trimester  to  300  kcal  during  the  second  and  third  trimesters.  Pregnant  women  require  10–15%  

more  kilocalories  than  before  pregnancy,  especially  during  the  last  months  of  pregnancy.  This  

amount   of   energy   can   be   provided   by   only   a   small   quantity   of   food;   expectant   mothers  

frequently  overestimate  their  need  for  additional  energy.  The  recommended  increase  depends  

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on  the  basal  metabolic  rate,  lifestyle  and  physical  activity.  The  main  indicator  is  the  increase  in  

the  body  mass  of  the  pregnant  woman,  which  should  remain  within  the  recommended  range  of  

10–16;  this  range  is  based  on guidance  from  a  German  national  consensus,  the  Nordic  nutrition  

recommendations   and   the   Institute   of   Medicine   (USA).   The   recommendations   of   professional  

associations   and   institutions,   however,   differ   significantly.   We   were   unable   to   analyse   weight  

gain  during  pregnancy,  the  prevalence  of  overweight  and  obesity  and  the  associated  health  risks  

in  Latvia,  as  data  are  not  available.  The  recommended  range  of  weight  gain  is  therefore  based  

mainly  on  European  national  guidance  with  reference  to  the  approach  in  the  USA:  the  desirable  

weight  gain  depends  on  the  BMI  before  conception.  

Educational  outreach  and  health  promotion  help  in  achieving  a  normal  pre-­‐pregnancy  weight,  

which  is  important  for  fertility,  a  successful  pregnancy  and  delivery  and  the  future  health  of  the  

offspring.