Question 1

Maternal and fetal blood supplies do not mix during a healthy pregnancy.

Accepted Answer

During a healthy pregnancy, the maternal and fetal blood supplies do not mix due to the placenta acting as a barrier, allowing for the exchange of nutrients and waste products while keeping the two blood supplies separate.

Question 2

Toxins and insufficient nutrient intake during critical periods may cause reversible damage to the embryo or fetus.

Accepted Answer

Toxins and insufficient nutrient intake during critical periods can cause irreversible damage to the embryo or fetus, not reversible damage.

Question 3

Proper nutrition positively influences the metabolic programming during pregnancy and may help limit future chronic disease in the child and adult.

Accepted Answer

Proper nutrition during pregnancy plays a crucial role in fetal development and can influence the child's risk of developing chronic diseases later in life through metabolic programming.

Question 4

Maternal obesity at the time of conception increases the risk for birth defects, increased birthweight, childhood overweight and obesity, and early mortality in adulthood.

Accepted Answer

Maternal obesity is associated with a higher risk of various adverse outcomes, including birth defects, increased birthweight, childhood overweight and obesity, and potentially early mortality in adulthood, due to the complex interplay of genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors transmitted from mother to child.

Question 5

Metabolic programming is the same as fetal programming.

Accepted Answer

Metabolic programming and fetal programming refer to the concept that environmental factors, particularly nutrition, during critical periods of prenatal and early postnatal development can have long-term effects on an individual's health, metabolism, and risk of diseases.

Question 6

Maternal nutrition, exposure to environmental toxins, drugs, stress during specific times of development can lead to functional tissue changes, and ultimately predispose an individual to disease later in life.

Accepted Answer

This concept is known as "fetal programming" or the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis, which suggests that the environment during fetal development can influence the risk of developing diseases in later life.

Question 7

Pregnant women need to avoid cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke, alcohol, illicit drugs, and botanicals.

Accepted Answer

Exposure to cigarette smoke, alcohol, illicit drugs, and certain botanicals during pregnancy can lead to a range of adverse outcomes for the fetus, including developmental issues, low birth weight, and increased risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.

Question 8

Most women of childbearing age do not consume adequate amounts of folic acid.

Accepted Answer

Many women of childbearing age do not consume enough folic acid, which is crucial for reducing the risk of neural tube defects in newborns. Public health campaigns often aim to increase awareness and intake among this population.

Question 9

Caffeine has been shown to be harmful to the fetus, and should be avoided by all pregnant women.

Accepted Answer

Moderate caffeine consumption (about 200 milligrams or less per day, equivalent to approximately two 6-ounce cups of coffee) is generally considered safe during pregnancy, according to major health organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. However, excessive caffeine intake can be harmful and should be limited.

Question 10

Folic acid is an important nutrient for pregnant women, and if this nutrient is underconsumed, it can result in permanent side effects in the infant.

Accepted Answer

Folic acid is crucial for pregnant women because its deficiency can lead to birth defects in the baby, such as neural tube defects, which are serious and permanent.

Question 11

Botanicals such as blue cohosh, juniper, pennyroyal, and goldenseal are safe roots, leaves, or other plant parts that are believed to have medicinal effects.

Accepted Answer

These botanicals can have potent effects and may pose risks, including toxicity or interference with other medications, making them not universally safe without proper guidance and usage.

Question 12

Morning sickness and cravings are common during the third trimester.

Accepted Answer

Morning sickness is most common during the first trimester, while cravings can occur at any time during pregnancy, but are not specific to the third trimester.

Question 13

Hyperemesis gravidarum and pica can be treated with nutritional supplements to avoid harmful effects to the mother and the embryo/fetus.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Hyperemesis gravidarum and pica can be treated...

Question 14

Sugar substitutes are safe to consume in moderation during pregnancy.

Accepted Answer

Most sugar substitutes, including artificial sweeteners and natural sweeteners, are considered safe for use during pregnancy by health authorities like the FDA, as long as they are consumed within the recommended daily intake limits.

Question 15

Pica is the abnormal, compulsive intake of nonedible items such as laundry starch, burnt matches, cornstarch, clay, dirt, paint chips, or baking soda.

Accepted Answer

Pica is a psychological disorder characterized by the persistent ingestion of non-nutritive, non-food substances over a period of at least one month, which is inappropriate to the developmental level of the individual.

Question 16

Pregnant women with PKU should avoid using aspartame.

Accepted Answer

Pregnant women with Phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid aspartame because it contains phenylalanine, which they cannot metabolize properly, potentially harming the developing fetus.

Question 17

Underweight and overweight women need to gain more than 25 pounds during the pregnancy.

Accepted Answer

The amount of weight a woman needs to gain during pregnancy can vary based on her pre-pregnancy weight. Underweight women may need to gain more, but overweight women are often advised to gain less than 25 pounds.

Question 18

Pregnant women who experience morning sickness need to take nutritional supplements at night.

Accepted Answer

Morning sickness does not automatically necessitate taking nutritional supplements at night. Nutritional needs during pregnancy vary and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized advice.

Question 19

Raw and undercooked plant products are more likely to carry pathogens and should be avoided during pregnancy.

Accepted Answer

Raw and undercooked plant products are not inherently more likely to carry pathogens than animal products. In fact, many plant products can be safely consumed raw, such as fruits and vegetables, as long as they are properly washed. It's undercooked or raw animal products that are generally more risky and should be avoided during pregnancy due to the higher risk of pathogens like Listeria, Salmonella, and Toxoplasma.

Question 20

Pregnant women who conceive at a healthy weight should consume an additional 340 kilocalories daily during the third trimester.

Accepted Answer

Pregnant women who conceive at a healthy weight are generally advised to consume an additional 340 kilocalories daily during the second trimester, not the third. During the third trimester, the recommendation increases to about 450 kilocalories per day.

Quiz 17: Life Cycle Nutrition: Pregnancy Through Infancy