Fetal growth, maternal nutrition, and dietary supplementation

Maternal nutrition, birthweight, and infant survival are inexorably linked. While many factors influence pregnancy outcome, prepregnancy weight, maternal weight gain, fat deposition, and placental growth are critical elements influencing fetal development. The nutritional status of women is therefore important in influencing the course of the pregnancy. This is particularly true of low-income, high-risk women. Significant improvement in birthweight and a reduction in the number of low birthweight infants have been reported when nutritional supplements such as those distributed through the U.S.D.A. WIC (Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children) have been provided to high-risk women.