A pregnant woman should really take into great consideration the developing baby in her womb who is fully dependent on her especially for nutrition. During pregnancy, it is highly important to have a balanced diet of nutritious foods. These include protein sources, carbohydrate-rich food, and fruits and vegetables. It is also important to eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acid, iron, iodine, protein, and fiber as it is needed for brain development of the fetus. The lack of these nutrients and the duration of the deficiency during pregnancy have negative implications to the brain development of the fetus.
Everything should be taken in moderation. Limit consumption of soda or coffee that are high in sugar and caffeine. Take into consideration the health condition of the pregnant women especially if they are experiencing gestational diabetes. This could be passed on to the developing fetus.
Good iodine stature of the mother especially during pregnancy is good for the brain development of the fetus. To have enough iodine, eat iodine-rich food such as seafood and use iodized salt in cooking or seasoning food.
As mentioned, breast milk is important for brain development during the first two years especially during the first 6 months. Breast milk is the complete and nutrient-rich food for infants that contain folate, calcium, iron, and other vitamins and minerals. It contains all the nutrients needed for growth and boosting of the immune system. Therefore, breast milk can safeguard proper growth and development. Human milk is the gold standard in types of milk. This is also inexpensive as it is readily available from the mother.
Aside from the nutritional benefits, breastfeeding also strengthens bonding and promotes physical contact between the mother and her child. This sense of attachment stimulates the child’s brain development. Mothers are advised to make every breastfeeding time a happy experience and quality bonding time with their baby. The eye to eye contact and the cuddling during breastfeeding form a bond between the mother and the child that could last a lifetime.
Pregnant women should have proper nutrition complemented with adequate rest, reduced stress and emotional health.
Parents should be wary because stunting has an immense impact on children. One of its effects is reduced mental capacity. A stunted child will have learning difficulties and poor cognitive function, especially in school. Also, a stunted child is prone to sickness that will equate to frequent absences and poor performance in school. When they become adults, they become less productive due to reduced capacity to find a job and earn sufficiently. Studies prove that adults who are stunted during childhood earn 20% less than those of normal height.
Studies also show that stunted children, should they gain weight rapidly later on in life, have a high probability of becoming overweight or obese which increases their risk of having non-communicable diseases such heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes.
Stunting does not only affect the person and their families. It also has a negative impact on national and global economic developments. A 1% loss in adult height due to stunting is estimated to lead to a 1.4% loss in economic productivity. Moreover, because of stunting, the individual’s income is reduced by 7% consequently affecting their families and the economy.
Evidence-based results show that the total cost of childhood undernutrition reaches 1.5-3% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). That is why a former NEDA chief said that stunting is like a time bomb that, if not addressed in the next 20 years, will cause a great loss in the productivity of many Filipinos consequently affecting our country’s economy.
It is a popular belief that stunting is hereditary. Most also argue that Filipinos are naturally smaller in height as compared to Americans and Europeans. The truth of the matter is that the genes play a lesser role in the growth and development of children. Environmental factors carry the big weight, and these include proper nutrition, better health, and sanitation and care. A study conducted by the WHO when it developed the Child Growth Standards showed that a child anywhere in the world will reach his/her full growth potential as long as he/she is given optimum nutrition and care. There was also a study that compared the average height of people from different countries for the last 100 years and it showed that the other nationalities are growing taller through the years but Filipinos are left behind in height even by other Asians such as Koreans and Japanese.
Parents are recommended to regularly monitor the growth and development of their children. They are advised to seek the services of the nearest health center or their doctor for the regular measurements of height and weight. This monitoring is very important especially for children 0-23 months old because this is the period of opportunity in preventing stunting. For children aged 2 years old and above, growth monitoring should be done every 3 months. These initiatives will help in the early diagnosis of malnutrition and stunting, as well as the identification and administration of appropriate interventions.
