Essay On Prenatal Life Cycle

The lifecycle that I have chosen for introduction to lifecycle nutrition and chronic diseases is prenatal. Having said that, prenatal is described as during pregnancy and before birth. In detail, there is no specific age range for prenatal lifecycles and woman can give birth at any age starting at the young age of 11 or 12 years old. The lifecycle starts at conception and ends at birth of the baby. Prenatal development consists of three phases which are first, second and third trimester, each phase is very important because it relates to nutrition prior to conception, the weeks last between 13 through 14 weeks. (According to Nutrition: An Applied Approach, Second Edition by Janice Thompson and Melinda Manore)

The relevant nutrients consist of macronutrients, which “provide nutrients needed to support fetal development without depriving the mother of nutrients she needs to maintain her own health” (According to Nutrition: An Applied Approach, Second Edition by Janice Thompson and Melinda Manore). Macronutrients are also known as the building blocks for physical form and structure of the fetus. Another key point, micronutrients are needed for pregnant women which are all important vitamins. Specifically, it’s important for a mother carrying a new born to not consume imprecise foods, for instance, processed foods such as hot dogs, fish high in mercury, and uncooked or raw meets. A healthful, balanced diet is needed for a pregnant mother. Ultimately, during the time of pregnancy, the mother must consume the required vitamins & nutrients which are folic acid, calcium, vitamins A, C, B6, B12, and D. Additionally, iron, appropriate carbohydrates, proteins and