Maternal psychosocial status, nutrition intake, and placental status in the 1st trimester of pregnancy: A pilot study

Introduction: A pregnant woman's dietary quality during the 1st trimester of pregnancy has a profound effect on placental development, which can result in diminished supply of nutrients to the fetus, thus inhibiting proper fetal growth. Little is known about low-income women's nutrition intake in the 1st trimester when placental development is very vulnerable. The aims of this study were to explore the relationships between psychosocial status and nutrition intake; and among nutrition intake and selected nutrition and placental biomarkers. Methodology: Descriptive design in a convenience sample of low-income women (N = 18) from Planned Parenthood clinics. Results. Partner support was related positively to vegetable intake and negatively to intake of iron and grains. Emotional eating had a significantly negative relationship to intake of iron-rich and folate-rich foods. Depressed women had less partner support but an increased intake of calcium-rich foods. Intake of calcium-rich foods was positively related to intake of iron-rich foods. Levels of a placental biomarker (VEGF) was related negatively to intake of calcium- (r = -.53) and iron-rich (r =-.34) foods and positively to serum calcium levels (r = .60). Placental growth factor was negatively related to maternal serum levels of albumin (r = -.61) and calcium (r = -.65). Discussion: The findings suggest that low-income pregnant women who engage in emotional eating are likely to have inadequate intake of nutrients that contribute to positive pregnancy outcomes and placental status in the early weeks of pregnancy may be influenced by maternal psychosocial and nutritional status.