Feeding the Mother and Infant

Nutrition during the perinatal period has become the focus for intensive research directed at the mother, the fetus and the young infant. Studies are currently being conducted to answer such questions as: how much weight should a mother gain during pregnancy? Is the pregnant adolescent at increased risk for a poor outcome? What are the consequences of being obese during pregnancy? Can dietary management protect the diabetic mother and her fetus? All of these questions are addressed in the first part of this book. The second part focuses on the fetus and deals with such issues as the role of the placenta in fetal nutrition, the importance of trace minerals and of certain vitamins in fetal development, and the effects of alcohol, smoking, caffeine and undernutrition on fetal and and placental growth. The last part of the book discusses the newborn and young infant. Such topics as energy metabolism in the premature and term infant and the role of birth in this devlopment and the outcome of small for date infants is also covered.
In its entirety this volume covers an area of major importance by discussing some of the ongoing research in maternal and infant nutrition and the applications for clinical practice.