Alcohol use during pregnancy

Risk factors associated with stress symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum: integrative literature review

Stressful events during prenatal and postpartum have been associated with an increase in the susceptibility to the onset of various diseases, threatening mental and physical health of mother and baby. The aim of this study was to synthesize and analyze the literature related to risk factors associated with stress symptoms during pregnancy and immediate postpartum by means of an integrative review. The search was conducted from January 2013 to July 2020, consulting the following databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science and LILACS. In total, 1,677 studies were identified, resulting in 38 articles included in this review. The risk factors most associated with stress in pregnancy and postpartum were related to emotional factors (including mental health, traumatic events and obstetric complications); social and economic factors; mother's health conditions and life style behaviors, and social support and partner related stress. The results are discussed under the light of the biopsychosocial model, which proposes that biological, psychological, and social domains should be considered in order to minimize psychosocial risk conditions. It is concluded that strategies to promote psychological care, education, additional social support and health behaviors should be considered to prevent adverse birth outcomes and to increase maternal well-being.

Macronutrient and Micronutrient Intake during Pregnancy: An Overview of Recent Evidence

Nutritional status during pregnancy can have a significant impact on maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Requirements for macronutrients such as energy and protein increase during pregnancy to maintain maternal homeostasis while supporting foetal growth. Energy restriction can limit gestational weight gain in women with obesity; however, there is insufficient evidence to support energy restriction during pregnancy. In undernourished women, balanced energy/protein supplementation may increase birthweight whereas high protein supplementation could have adverse effects on foetal growth. Modulating carbohydrate intake via a reduced glycaemic index or glycaemic load diet may prevent gestational diabetes and large-for-gestational-age infants. Certain micronutrients are also vital for improving pregnancy outcomes, including folic acid to prevent neural tube defects and iodine to prevent cretinism. Newly published studies support the use of calcium supplementation to prevent hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, particularly in women at high risk or with low dietary calcium intake. Although gaps in knowledge remain, research linking nutrition during pregnancy to maternofoetal outcomes has made dramatic advances over the last few years. In this review, we provide an overview of the most recent evidence pertaining to macronutrient and micronutrient requirements during pregnancy, the risks and consequences of deficiencies and the effects of supplementation on pregnancy outcomes.