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CARMEL SCHOOL KUWAIT

Possible Effects of Maternal Behaviour On Foetal Development

Done By:-

THERES MARIA BINO XII – A

39 2021 – 2022

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CARMEL SCHOOL KUWAIT

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified to be the bonafide work done by Ms. Theres Maria Bino of class

XII – A, during the academic year 2021 – 2022, under the guidance of her

parents and teachers in particular fulfillment of the curriculum of Central

Boards of Secondary Education (CBSE) leading to the award of the annual

examination of the year 2021 – 2022.

Date:……………….. Signature of Examiner

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DECLARATION

I, Theres Maria Bino, hereby declare that the Investigatory Project entitled

to “Possible Effects of Maternal Behaviour on Foetal Development” has been

carried out by me in class XII – A, in Carmel School Kuwait, in the academic

year 2021 - 2021, by my own efforts and facts arrived at my own observation

with the help and guidance of my teachers and parents and the valuable

information that they have imparted.

Signature of Candidate

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INDEX

1. BONIFIDE CERTIFICATE………………………………….…………2 2. DECLARATION………………………….………………......………....3

3. MAIN CONTENT

4. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………...……..5

5. IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION IN FETAL GROWTH &

DEVELOPMENT…………………………………………….…….........6

6. EFFECTS OF MALNUTRITION ON MOTHER AND

BABY…………………………………………………………………......7

7. CAUSES OF MALNUTRITION IN PREGNANT

WOMEN……………………………………………………………….....8

8. HEALTH RISKS OF MALNUTRITION IN

PREGNANCY…………………………………………………………..10

9. PREVENTION OF MALNUTRITION…………………………….…11

10. PROPER HYGIENE TO BE FOLLOWED DURING

PREGNANCIES………………………………………………………...12

11. BAD HABITS TO BE AVOIDED BY PREGNANT WOMEN

AND ITS CAUSES……………………………………….…………..…13

12. CNCLUSION………………………………...………….……………....17

13. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT……….………..………….…………….…..18

14. BIBLIOLOGY…………………………………………………………..19

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Nutrition is the major intrauterine environmental factor that alters expression of the fetal genome and may have lifelong consequences. Namely, alterations in fetal nutrition and endocrine status may result in developmental adaptations that permanently change the structure, physiology, and metabolism of the offspring, thereby predisposing individuals to metabolic, endocrine, and cardiovascular diseases in adult life.

Animal studies show that both maternal under nutrition and over nutrition reduce placental-fetal blood flows and stunt fetal growth. Impaired placental syntheses of nitric oxide (a major vasodilator and angiogenesis factor) and polyamines (key regulators of DNA and protein synthesis) may provide a unified explanation for intrauterine growth retardation in response to the 2 extremes of nutritional problems with the same pregnancy outcome. There is growing evidence that maternal nutritional status can alter the epigenetic state of the fetal genome. Promoting optimal nutrition will not only ensure optimal fetal development, but will also reduce the risk of chronic diseases in adults.

Most drugs consumed by the mother whether medical or of abuse easily cross the placenta and can affect fetal brain development. In utero exposures to drugs thus can have long-lasting implications for brain structure and function. Thus, it can cause many bad side-effects on the baby as well as risk of its own life when consumed heavily.

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IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION IN FETAL GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

Maternal nutrition plays a critical role in fetal growth and development. Although considerable effort has been directed towards defining nutrient requirements of animals over the past 30 years, suboptimal nutrition during gestation remains a significant problem for many animal species.

Maternal under nutrition during gestation reduces placental and fetal growth of both domestic animals and humans. Available evidence suggests that fetal growth is most vulnerable to maternal dietary deficiencies of nutrients during the peri-implantation period and the period of rapid placental development.

Under nutrition in pregnant women may result from low intake of dietary nutrients owing to either a limited supply of food or severe nausea and vomiting known as hyperemesis gravidarum.

Pregnant women may also be at increased risk of under nutrition because of early or closely-spaced pregnancies. Since pregnant teenage mothers are themselves growing, they compete with their own fetuses for nutrients, whereas short inter-pregnancy intervals result in maternal nutritional depletion at the outset of

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pregnancy. Low birth weights and preterm deliveries in adolescent pregnancies are more than twice as common as in adult pregnancies, and neonatal mortality in adolescent pregnancies is almost three times higher than for adult pregnancies.

Further, placental insufficiency results in reduced transfer of nutrients from mother to fetus, thereby leading to fetal under nutrition and IUGR (Intrauterine growth restriction). Finally, due to competition for nutrients, multiple fetuses resulting from assisted reproductive technologies are often at risk of under nutrition and therefore fetal growth restriction. Thus, various nutritional and pathological conditions can result in IUGR.

Pregnant women are usually recommended to avoid soft cheeses, smoked fish, precooked meats and foods made with unpasteurized milk. These foods may contain a bacterium called Listeria. This bacterium does not usually cause people much harm, but even a mild infection in a pregnant woman may cause miscarriage.

EFFECTS OF MALNUTRITION ON MOTHER AND BABY

Our bodies need nutrients for normal functioning and good health. Pregnancy is a period when the nutrient intake is crucial as the baby in the womb needs nutrition for healthy growth and development. The mother also requires essential nutrients that will help her body withstand the rigours of pregnancy.

Therefore, malnutrition is a serious concern among pregnant women.

Well-nourished mother gives birth to a well formed baby. A poorly nourished woman may not even conceive; and if she does there is increased risk for growth disorders in the offspring.

The consequences depend on the timing, severity, and duration of nutrition deprivation. Poor weigh gain is well documented in fetuses of the mothers who are deprived of adequate nutrients. Nutritionally deprived low birth weight infants have proportionately small organs including the brain. Damage occurs at the cellular level and the functional capacity of cells gets marred. Affected neonates often present with metabolic disorders.

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CAUSES OF MALNUTRITION IN PREGNANT WOMEN

1. Ignorance / Lack of Awareness. Not knowing about the importance of nutrients can lead to malnutrition as the individual will not have a healthy, balanced diet.

2. Illness and Infections. Diarrhoea and vomiting can prevent a person from getting adequate nutrition. Illnesses, infections, and mental illnesses like depression can also affect a person’s ability to consume and digest nutritious food. They can cause a loss of appetite and affect the digestive system

3. Socio-Economic & Financial Conditions. Families in low-income groups or jobless may lack financial resources to buy healthy food. This can lead to malnutrition in such individuals.

4. Dental Problems. Painful teeth problems and gum disease can prevent a person from consuming nutritious food.

5. Medications. Use of some kinds of medicines can disrupt nutrient absorption in the body, thus causing malnutrition.

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6. Morning Sickness. Severe morning sickness during pregnancy can hamper a woman’s ability to consume healthy food and may lead to malnutrition. (Hyperemesis gravidum).

7. Insufficient Intake. During pregnancy, a woman requires around 300 extra calories a day. If the woman does not consume adequate quantities of healthy food, it can lead to malnutrition.

8. Pregorexia. Fear of gaining weight during pregnancy - It occurs when a pregnant woman wants to maintain the body weight she had before getting pregnant. Undoubtedly, this is a serious problem, because pregnant women with this condition reduce the number of calories they eat and increase the amount of exercise.

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HEALTH RISKS OF MALNUTRITION IN PREGNANCY

1. Risks for the Mother.

(i) Maternal Mortality – Women who are under-nourished before and during pregnancy have a higher risk of dying during pregnancy or childbirth.

(ii) Risk of Miscarriage – Under-nourished women are at a higher risk of miscarrying.

(iii) Dental Problems – Moms-to-be who are malnourished can suffer from tooth decay and other dental problems.

(iv) Osteomalacia – This is a condition where the bones of a malnourished woman become too soft and brittle.

(v) Anaemia – Iron deficiency can cause anaemia in moms-to-be. This means that they have fewer red blood cells than normal, so the body’s cells do not receive enough oxygen.

(vi) Toxaemia – Preeclampsia or toxaemia is a condition where the blood pressure and the protein level in the blood of a pregnant woman are dangerously high. This can endanger the life of both the mom and the baby.

2. Risks for the Baby. Malnutrition of the mother also affects the baby inside her womb.

(i) Stillbirth – Babies that are malnourished do not grow and develop properly and could die in the womb.

(ii) Premature Birth – Babies born prematurely are underdeveloped and could suffer from various problems such as poor vision, weak muscles, brain damage, poor growth rate, etc. They can also get necrotising enterocolitis, where bacteria invade and destroy their intestines.

(iii) Perinatal mortality – Babies of women who were undernourished during pregnancy have a higher risk of dying in the 1st week of birth.

(iv) Birth Defects – Deficiency of micronutrients during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects in the baby. For example, deficiency of folic acid can cause Spina bifida in babies, where the baby is born with a deformed spinal cord. This affects their ability to walk, and control bowel and bladder movements.

(v) Underdeveloped Organs – Malnourished babies can be born with underdeveloped organs, which can seriously affect the quality of their lives.

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3. Long-Term Health Risk for the Child.

(i) Diabetes Mellitus – Malnourished babies are at a much higher risk of developing type-2 diabetes later in their lives.

(ii) Cardiovascular Diseases – These babies also develop high blood pressure and heart disease in adulthood.

(iii) Osteoporosis – Under-nourished babies suffer from osteoporosis, a condition where the bones are weak and brittle and prone to fractures.

(iv) Low IQ and Cognitive Impairment – Under-nourishment also causes babies to grow up with lower IQ than normal and suffer from cognitive impairment, where a person has problems learning new things, remembering, and making decisions in daily life.

PREVENTION OF MALNUTRITION Malnutrition can be prevented by having a balanced diet which includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, water, dietary fibre, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Signs and symptoms of malnutrition in pregnancy include fatigue, anaemia, low pregnancy weight, dizziness, high blood pressure, hair loss, dry skin, dental problems, and low immunity.

To prevent malnutrition, women who plan to conceive should take prenatal vitamins, eat healthy food and exercise regularly. During the pregnancy, they should eat nutritious food and continue to take their pregnancy vitamins. This ensures that both mother and the newborn are hale and healthy.

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PROPER HYGIENE TO BE FOLLOWED DURING PREGNANCIES

Good hygiene during pregnancy will help prevent infections, keep the mother comfortable and make her feel more refreshed. Any infection you might catch during your pregnancy may directly affect your baby in the womb as the baby in the womb is more vulnerable to infections and weak. Chronic exposure to toxins and other harmful agents during pregnancy could also lead to certain malformations in the baby. Some important aspects of pregnancy hygiene that a women must focus on are listed below:-

1. Skin And Hair Care: The skin tends to be more active during the pregnancy period. In addition, the overactive oil glands tend to make your hair oilier.

2. Tooth Care: Believe it or not, but tooth care too forms an important part of your hygiene during pregnancy. In fact, during pregnancy you need to give more attention to your tooth care.

3. Clothing: A pregnant women must always wear easy, soft and comfortable outfits throughout pregnancy period and avoid wearing too tight and sweaty clothes to avoid sweating.

4. Personal Hygiene: Personal hygiene is undoubtedly the most important factor you must pay attention to during your pregnancy – especially by taking a bath daily, keeping the pubic area clean and hair-free to prevent any genital infections that may also harm your baby and using unperfumed soaps as this helps to maintain the pH levels.

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BAD HABITS TO BE AVOIDED BY PREGNANT WOMEN AND ITS CAUSES Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying away from bad habits is important for everyone. But when a women is pregnant, it’s not just about her health, it’s also about her baby’s health, and her bad habits can put her baby’s health at risk cause what she consumes is what the baby intake.

Bad habits, no matter how small they may seem, can harm the baby inside the womb. A mother’s behavior and choices influence the baby’s development over these nine months of pregnancy. A mother’s bad habits can result in disease, growth issues, and brain damage in babies.

Making good lifestyle choices will directly impact the health of the growing fetus, and will be more likely to give birth to a healthy and beautiful baby. Plus, following a healthy lifestyle helps reduce the discomforts and complications associated with pregnancy.

It is better to be safe than sorry, so it is time to quit your bad habits.

Some bad habits to avoid are listed below:

1. Drinking Alcohol. Alcohol in the mother’s blood passes to the baby through the umbilical cord. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and a range of lifelong physical, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities. These disabilities are known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Children with FASDs might have the following characteristics and behaviors: • Have birth defects (heart, brain and other organs) • Vision or hearing problems • Be born too soon (preterm) • Be born at low birth weight

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• Have intellectual disabilities • Have learning and behavior problems • Have sleeping and sucking problems • Have speech and language delays • Have behavioral problems

2. Smoking. Women who smoke are more likely to experience infertility and miscarriage (spontaneous abortion). When a pregnant woman smokes, some toxins from the smoke can be passed to the fetus. These toxins can later affect an infant’s lung development and lung function. Babies of women who smoke are more likely to be born prematurely, to have a low birth weight, and to have slower initial growth. Smoking cessation within the first trimester lowers these health risks to a level comparable to those of people who have never smoked. Infants in households where there is a smoker are more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

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3. Eating Junk Food. When an expecting mommy eats all those sugar and salt-rich foods which are undoubtedly less nutritive value, it is absorbed by the placenta as well. Thus, interfering with the healthy development and resulting in an obese baby or a baby with health disorders including mental health disorders as well. It is undoubtedly bad to eat junk food in general and especially during pregnancy because if you are eating junk food regularly, you are putting your and your baby’s health at risk. You will gain unwanted and unhealthy weight that can pose problems during delivery, as the weight gain during pregnancy can’t be lost during the pregnancy.

4. Consuming Excess Caffeine Caffeine is a stimulant and a diuretic. Because caffeine is a stimulant, it increases your blood pressure and heart rate, both of which are not recommended during pregnancy. It also increases the frequency of urination. This causes a reduction in your body fluid levels and can lead to dehydration. Caffeine crosses the placenta to your baby. Although you may be able to handle the amounts of caffeine you feed your body, your baby cannot. Your baby’s metabolism is still maturing and cannot fully metabolize the

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caffeine. Any amount of caffeine can also cause changes in your baby’s sleep pattern or normal movement pattern in the later stages of pregnancy. Remember, caffeine is a stimulant and can keep both you and your baby awake.

5. Taking Medicine on Your Own. During pregnancy, use of any medicine should be carefully monitored. Pregnant women should be careful when using types of medicine that belong to group C, D and X. If you are already taking some prescribed medicine, you should bring it to your doctor’s attention immediately, because anything you ingest, including medication, can reach the fetus and potentially harm your unborn baby.

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CONCLUSION This study underscore the importance of considering the effects of women’s physical, mental and nutritional health on child development during the prenatal, as well the postnatal, periods. While gestational diabetes is far less common than depression during pregnancy, women are routinely screened for this disorder, but not for depression, any psychiatric illness, nor even experiences of life stress.

Anything happening to the mother, no matter may it be a positive or negative impact, it reaches the baby through the umbilical cord and in turn has its effect on the baby whether it is any behavioral, nutritional or mental changes. Whatever a Mom think the baby gasps it , whatever mom feels the baby feels, whatever the mom goes through the baby too goes through, and thus they share all what they have and that is the mutual relationship between them, as they were one for nine months, even not for a lifetime it is the best-time.

I would like to wind-up my project by saying that “A mother does not become pregnant in order to provide employment to medical people. Giving birth is an ecstatic jubilant adventure not available to males. It is a woman’s crowning creative experience of a lifetime.”–by John Stevenson

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Primarily I would Thank God for being able to complete this project successfully. Then I would like to express my immense gratitude to my Biology teacher Mrs. Jayalekshmy Suresh for the help and guidance she provided for completing the investigatory project.

Then I would like to thank my parents who have helped me with their valuable suggestions and guidance which really helped me in completing this project.

Most of all I thank our school management, for providing us the facilities and opportunity to do this project.

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BIBLIOLOGY

1. www.wikipedia.com/Pigments

2. www.google.com

3. www.1000sciencefairprojects.com

4. www.slideshare.com

5. www.academia.edu

6. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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THANK YOU