title: Maternal nutrition and birthweight: selective review and some results of observations in Machakos, Kenya.
abstract: A selective review of maternal nutrition and birthweight is presented. Data from an observational, longitudinal study in Machakos, Kenya show that the habitual diet of pregnant women provided about 1600 kcal and 50 g of protein per day. Nevertheless the birthweight was acceptable, i.e., the mean value was 3058 g. This good reproductive performance was attributed to the fact that weight-for-height remained acceptable during pregnancy, in spite of low weight gain because of an acceptable pre-pregnant weight. However, the birthweight was found to be influenced by the mother's weight in the third month of pregnancy, her weight gain and her height.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001724:Birth Weight; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012044:Regression Analysis