Periconceptional nutrition and infant outcomes

The problems of low birth weight (LBW < 2500 g), intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) or being small for gestational age (SGA), and preterm delivery (<37 completed weeks' gestation) are well known, and a vast amount of research has been undertaken to understand the etiology of these poor pregnancy outcomes and to identify effective strategies for their prevention. Although much progress has been made in improving the survival of these babies, effective preventive strategies are still lacking. Research suggests that maternal nutritional factors before and during pregnancy affect her risk of poor pregnancy outcomes, from spontaneous abortion, congenital malformations, and birth defects to IUGR and preterm delivery and reduced likelihood of her baby's survival during infancy. Yet there appear to be few examples of effective programs for improving maternal nutrition during pregnancy.