Maternity Nursing Q 88
The main reason for an expected increased need for iron in pregnancy is:
A. The mother may have physiologic anemia due to the increased need for red blood cell mass as well as the fetal requires about 350-400 mg of iron to grow.
B. The mother may suffer anemia because of poor appetite.
C. The fetus has an increased need for RBC which the mother must supply.
D. The mother may have a problem with digestion because of pica.
Correct Answer: A. The mother may have physiologic anemia due to the increased need for red blood cell mass, as well as the fetal, requires about 350-400 mg of iron to grow.
About 400 mg of iron is needed by the mother in order to produce more RBC mass to be able to provide the needed increase in blood supply for the fetus. Also, about 350-400 mg of iron is needed for the normal growth of the fetus. Thus, about 750-800 mg iron supplementation is needed by the mother to meet this additional requirement.
Option B: If the woman loses her appetite, she may experience a general disinterest in all foods or a lack of desire to eat. Keep in mind that appetite loss differs from an aversion to a few specific foods, which is also fairly common during pregnancy. Pregnant women with chronically poor appetites run a risk of anemia, fetal growth abnormalities, and preterm birth.
Option C: Anemia during pregnancy is especially a concern because it is associated with low birth weight, premature birth, and maternal mortality. Women who are pregnant are at a higher risk for developing anemia due to the excess amount of blood the body produces to help provide nutrients for the baby.
Option D: Pica is the practice of craving substances with little or no nutritional value. Most pregnancy and pica-related cravings involve non-food substances such as dirt or chalk. Eating non-food substances is potentially harmful to both the mother and the baby. Eating non-food substances may interfere with the nutrient absorption of healthy food substances and actually cause a deficiency.