Twin pregnancy: the impact of the Higgins Nutrition Intervention Program on maternal and neonatal outcomes

Article Abstract:

Twin pregnancies (pregnancies involving two fetuses) are considered high risk because they are associated with higher rates of low birth weights and infant sickness and death than pregnancies involving only one fetus. The growth and development of twin fetuses is similar to that of a single fetus up to the 32nd week of pregnancy. After the 32nd week, the growth of the twin fetuses slows down. As a result, twins are at greater risk for growth retardation. Also, preterm birth (early delivery) is more common in twin pregnancies and it is associated with low birth weight. Twins are usually delivered by week 37, while single births usually occur at week 40. It has been suggested that women with twin pregnancies should consume more food than women who are pregnant with only one fetus. Therefore, a study was performed to determine if the incidence of growth retardation, low birth weight, or preterm delivery in twin pregnancies could be reduced by increasing the amount of calories and protein consumed by the mother. This study used the Higgins Nutrition Intervention Program, which calls for an additional 1,000 calories (kcal) and 50 grams of protein per day after the 20th week of pregnancy. The study included 520 women with twin pregnancies, 177 of whom participated in the nutrition program. The twins of the mothers who participated in the program weighed an average of 80 grams more than the twins of the mothers who did not participate in the program. The incidence of preterm delivery and low birth weight was 30 percent and 25 percent lower, respectively, for the mothers who participated in the program. Also, the incidence of neonatal death was fivefold lower for the mothers participating in the program. It is concluded that nutrition intervention can improve the outcome of twin pregnancies. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Risk factors, Pregnancy, Complications of, Pregnancy complications, Multiple birth

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Nutrient intakes during pregnancy: observations on the influence of smoking and social class

Article Abstract:

While it has been established that women who smoke during pregnancy give birth to smaller babies, it is not clear whether smokers eat less food, or less nutritious food, or perhaps there is another explanation for the lower birth weights entirely. In Britain, social class is strongly related to both smoking and nutrient intake; women in professional careers smoke less and eat more nutritious diets than women in manual labor occupations. Ninety-four women who smoked at least 15 cigarettes per day and 206 nonsmokers kept a record of all foods eaten over seven days at 28 weeks' gestation. Most of the subjects (178) repeated the seven-day food records at 36 weeks. They were given detailed instructions on how to weigh foods on a scale so that portion sizes would be correct; in almost all cases subjects were able to weigh their food. The data showed that as a group the nonsmokers ate a more nutritious diet than the smokers; while total energy intake was equivalent in the two groups, nonsmokers ate foods that contained more nutrients per calorie. Smoking appeared to have a significant adverse effect on the consumption of many nutrients, after corrections were made for the influence of social factors. In both groups, food intake was reduced during late pregnancy, but the reduction was more pronounced among smokers. The authors conclude that smokers from all socioeconomic classes had diets of lower quality than nonsmokers. Poor nutrition, particularly inadequate vitamin intakes, may contribute to the lower birth weights of infants born to mothers who smoke. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Physiological aspects, Birth weight, Low, Low birth weight, Tobacco, Smoking and women, Women smokers

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