The first 1000 days consists of three (3) essential phases: 270 days of conception and pregnancy; 180 days of the child from birth until age 6 months, and the remaining 550 days from the child’s 6th month to his/her 2nd birthday. Good nutrition during the child’s first 1000 days is imperative as it sets the foundation for the child’s over all health and nutrition, and future.
The child’s brain develops fastest during pregnancy requiring optimum nutrition. As the child is dependent on maternal nutrition, the pregnant mother needs to be well-nourished. Thus, the first step in ensuring that the child receives good nutrition for growth and development during the first 270 days is by taking care of the health and nutritional needs of the pregnant mother. Kaya mahalaga na alagaan ang buntis.
In the 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS), 22.9% of pregnant women were found to be nutritionally at-risk and there were more teenage pregnant mothers (28.5%) who were nutritionally at-risk than adult pregnant women (22.3%). Anemia among pregnant women is considered a mild public health problem at 19.9% based on the same survey. Being underweight or nutritionally at-risk and anemic during pregnancy pose health risks to the mother and more so, to the growing fetus in her womb. The mother must maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy and get the proper amount of essential nutrients for her and the child in her womb. In fact, a woman must have normal weight even before becoming pregnant to give birth to a healthy infant with birth weight of not less than 2.5 kilograms.
So what should the pregnant mother do to ensure her child’s optimal growth and development during the 270 days of the child’s first 1000 days? What nutrition interventions or services must she avail during her entire pregnancy to be well-nourished and healthy?
Republic Act 11148 or the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng MagNanay Act” of 2018 states the following critical nutrition interventions for pregnant mothers:
- Pregnant women must have at least four (4) prenatal visits in three (3) trimesters (1-1-2) throughout pregnancy.
- Pregnant women should take iron-folic acid tablets daily for 180 days to prevent maternal anemia, low birth weight and preterm birth.
- Pregnant women especially those who are nutritionally at-risk should be given 90 days of balanced protein-energy dietary supplementation to prevent low birth weight babies.
- Pregnant women should receive immunizations such as tetanus and diphtheria toxoid vaccine, and other vaccines deemed as appropriate
- Pregnant women should maintain a healthy weight. A balanced diet of rice, meat/fish, green leafy vegetables, yellow fruits and vegetables and milk/egg products can help ensure optimum health of the mother and her child.
- Regular exercise during pregnancy is highly recommended to relieve possible discomforts such as fatigue and back pain. It can also prevent gestational diabetes, relieve stress, and build stamina needed for labor and delivery.
The delivery of these nutrition interventions included in the First 1000 Days program should be scaled up by ensuring that these are made accessible and available to all pregnant mothers. In so doing, the child’s optimum growth and development during its 270 days or the period of conception and pregnancy will be assured. Kapag healthy si Mommy, healthy si Baby.
This year’s Nutrition Month theme, “Malnutrisyon patuloy na labanan, first 1000 days tutukan!” emphasizes the importance of the child’s nutrition starting from conception until the child’s second birthday. Nurturing the child in his/her first 270 days necessitates nurturing the pregnant mother.
For her and her child’s nutritional well-being, pregnant mothers are advised to eat healthy -- “Kumain ng sapat para tamang weight gain ang katapat”.
Written by: NOI Jessica Ross P. Fernandez and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo
References:
- 2021 Nutrition Month Talking Points
- 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey, DOST-FNRI
- Republic Act 11148 (https://www.congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/ra_17/RA11148.pdf)
