Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy from Coursera

Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy offers an overview of the latest research findings and international recommendations on a variety of nutrition-related aspects and outcomes of pregnancy. Ensuring a healthy nutritional status and lifestyle prior to and during pregnancy is one of the best ways to help support the healthy growth and development of the unborn child. We will look at how a healthy diet and lifestyle should ideally be achieved prior to conception and provide recommendations for pre-conception counseling of women.

We will also look at the nutrient recommendations for a healthy pregnancy to ensure optimal maternal and fetal outcomes as well as focus on the most common nutrition-related pregnancy complications; obesity and gestational diabetes.

The learner will have the opportunity to delve into the cutting-edge world of epigenetic and metabolomic research and appreciate the enormous role that these programming effects have in long-term health and disease outcomes.

Finally, we offer real-life, everyday situations and questions from pregnant women to aid healthcare professionals in the nutrition-based counseling of pregnant women and their families.

In addition to the English original, subtitles in Portuguese language are available now!

Once you finish this course, we invite you to navigate the world of nutrition in infancy during the first six months of life through our newly launched course "Breastfeeding and Adequate Substitutes".

What's inside

Syllabus

Unit 1 - A Healthy Pregnancy Starts Before Conception

In this Unit we detail what nutrition and lifestyle changes should be considered and already implemented prior to conception and emphasis the important role that a healthy BMI and sufficient folate status play in providing the unborn child with the best start possible.

Unit 2 - Nutrition and Lifestyle for a Healthy Pregnancy

The learner will gain an insight into the current nutrition-related recommendations for healthy pregnancies. We will look at the maternal physiological and metabolic adaptions that occur during pregnancy and what these play in supporting pregnancy and altering nutrient requirements. We will then focus on the changing macro- and micro-nutrient requirements during pregnancy and what outcomes these can have on both the mother and unborn child. Finally, we will focus on food-bourne illnesses and what foods and beverages or lifestyle activities to avoid during pregnancy.

Unit 3 - Nutrition-Related Pregnancy Outcomes

The focus of this unit is the two most common nutrition-related pregnancy complications: obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus. Based on the latest scientific findings the learner will gain an in-depth knowledge of the risk factors, outcomes and recommendations associated with these pregnancy complications to better manage and counsel pregnant women and improve infant outcomes.

Unit 4 - Practical Advice for a Healthy Pregnancy

Learners will apply the knowledge gained in the previous lessons to real-life clinical scenarios. Pregnant women pose common questions related to nutrition and lifestyle during pregnancy and experts in the area of early nutrition offer comprehensive, scientific-based answers to aid healthcare professionals in their day-to-day interactions with pregnant women and those wishing to become pregnant.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops awareness around broad metabolic adaptions in pregnancy, which is core knowledge for supporting healthy pregnancies

Cements a strong foundation for healthcare professionals to provide real-life counseling to pregnant women

Taught by well-regarded instructors in the nutrition space, giving learners confidence in the course's quality

Provides current knowledge of research findings and international recommendations, giving learners access to up-to-date information

Examines the most common nutrition-related pregnancy complications, which is relevant to a healthcare professional audience

Explores less common topics such as epigenetic and metabolomic research, offering learners a cutting-edge perspective

Reviews summary

Pregnancy nutrition and lifestyle

learners say Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy is a well-received course offering practical advice for nutrition and lifestyle choices before, during, and after pregnancy. According to students, it emphasizes the importance of certain nutrients, such as folic acid, and addresses common concerns like physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Many found the lectures engaging and informative, and appreciated the references to scientific studies and the inclusion of quizzes and homework assignments to reinforce learning.

Quizzes and homework assignments reinforce learning.

"Excellent, helpful course! I enjoyed the very useful information, the format, the experts consulted, and the manner in which the assessments were done."

The course is based on scientific research and provides references to studies.

"This course is a bit scientific, which i liked very much. Heavily based on facts with a tons of references to literature."

"This course has been wonderful. I have learned so much and faculty is phenomenal."

"References are short with maximum useful information. They look interesting and are well received. Additional information for self-study is selected as relevant. I'm glad for this opportunity to get high-quality knowledge online"

Physical activity during pregnancy is generally beneficial.

"This course has been wonderful. I have learned so much and faculty is phenomenal."

"Nice course. Got to learn so many things regarding Pregnancy nutrition and lifestyle which is helpful for clinical practice"

"I'm a nutrition student and this course made me see the area I want to follow, the Portuguese subtitles are great and it wasn't an obstacle to finish the course! "

Essential nutrients, like folic acid, are crucial for a healthy pregnancy.

"I have learned a lot about feeding pregnant women, and this course added valuable information about the right sports for pregnant women and the nutrients needed during pregnancy."

"It was very informative and interesting course, I have learned a lot about the important nutrients, life style and risk factors during pregnancy."

"It was very informative course. I learned about the nutrients and its role during pregnancy. Thankyou instructors to teach such an amazing course."

Alcohol and smoking during pregnancy can have negative effects on the baby.

"Consequences of consuming alcohol and smoking during pregnancy."

"this course has really help me a lot and thanks to the lecturer for his time"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy with these activities:

Understand key concepts and terminology

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Refreshes your memory on the basic principles of nutrition and lifestyle that influence pregnancy outcomes.

Browse courses on Pregnancy

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Review course syllabus and learning objectives
Read introductory chapter of course textbook

Connect with a registered dietitian specializing in prenatal nutrition

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Establishes a valuable connection with an expert who can provide guidance and support throughout the course.

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Attend networking events or reach out to professional organizations
Request informational interviews or mentorship opportunities

Attend a prenatal nutrition workshop

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Provides an immersive learning experience and allows for direct interaction with experts in the field.

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Research and find relevant workshops in your area
Register and attend the workshop

Four other activities

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Calculate nutrient requirements during pregnancy

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Improves understanding of nutrient needs by applying calculations to different scenarios.

Browse courses on Pregnancy

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Use online calculators or spreadsheets
Complete practice problems from the textbook

Discuss case studies and nutrition counseling strategies

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Fosters collaboration and critical thinking while applying nutrition principles to real-life scenarios.

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Join a study group or online forum
Present case studies and discuss management plans

Follow guided simulations on fetal growth

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Provides a deeper and interactive experience of fetal growth patterns and the impact of nutrition.

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Explore online simulations and animations
Attend virtual workshops or webinars

Develop a nutrition plan for a pregnant client

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Applies knowledge gained to create a comprehensive nutrition plan, solidifying understanding of dietary recommendations.

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Collect client information and assess nutritional status
Develop an individualized meal plan
Provide nutrition education and counseling

Career center

Learners who complete Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Registered Dietitian

Registered Dietitians, also known as RDs, may use this course to help gain specialized knowledge in nutrition and lifestyle during pregnancy. The course not only covers the most up-to-date research and international recommendations on nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy, but also delves into the role of a healthy lifestyle in supporting a healthy pregnancy and the growth and development of the unborn child. RDs may use this course to help build a foundation in nutrition-related pregnancy complications and how to best counsel pregnant women and their families.

See salaries and explore the career path for Registered Dietitian

Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist

Licensed Dietitian Nutritionists, like Registered Dietitians, may use this course to help expand their knowledge in the area of pregnancy nutrition and lifestyle considerations. This course would be particularly helpful for LDNs who want to specialize in prenatal or pregnancy nutrition.

See salaries and explore the career path for Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist

Nutritionist

Nutritionists may take this course to build a foundation in nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy. The course covers topics such as the latest research findings and international recommendations on nutrition-related aspects of pregnancy, as well as the role of nutrition in supporting a healthy pregnancy and the growth and development of the unborn child. This knowledge may be helpful for Nutritionists wanting to specialize in prenatal or pregnancy nutrition.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nutritionist

Health Educator

Health Educators may find this course useful, as it provides a comprehensive overview of nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy, including the latest research and recommendations. This knowledge can be used to educate pregnant women and their families about healthy eating and lifestyle choices during pregnancy.

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Nurse

Nurses may use this course to build a foundation in nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy. The course covers topics such as the latest research findings and international recommendations on nutrition-related aspects of pregnancy, as well as the role of nutrition in supporting a healthy pregnancy and the growth and development of the unborn child. This knowledge may be helpful for Nurses who want to specialize in prenatal or pregnancy care.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nurse

Doctor

Doctors may find this course useful as it provides a comprehensive overview of nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy. This course builds upon the latest research and recommendations on nutrition-related aspects of pregnancy and delves into the role of nutrition in supporting a healthy pregnancy and the growth and development of the unborn child. This knowledge can be used to counsel pregnant women and their families about healthy eating and lifestyle choices during pregnancy.

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Midwife

Midwives may use this course to build a foundation in nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy. The course covers topics such as the latest research findings and international recommendations on nutrition-related aspects of pregnancy, as well as the role of nutrition in supporting a healthy pregnancy and the growth and development of the unborn child. This knowledge may be helpful for Midwives who want to specialize in prenatal or pregnancy care.

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Health Coach

Health Coaches may use this course to build a foundation in nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy. The course covers topics such as the latest research findings and international recommendations on nutrition-related aspects of pregnancy, as well as the role of nutrition in supporting a healthy pregnancy and the growth and development of the unborn child.

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Food Scientist

Food Scientists may find this course useful as it provides a comprehensive overview of nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy. This course builds upon the latest research and recommendations on nutrition-related aspects of pregnancy and delves into the role of nutrition in supporting a healthy pregnancy and the growth and development of the unborn child.

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Public Health Nutritionist

Public Health Nutritionists may use this course to expand their knowledge base in nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy. This course covers the latest research findings and international recommendations on nutrition-related aspects of pregnancy, as well as the role of nutrition in supporting a healthy pregnancy and the growth and development of the unborn child.

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Research Scientist

Research Scientists in the field of nutrition may find this course useful, as it provides a comprehensive overview of nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy. This course builds upon the latest research and recommendations on nutrition-related aspects of pregnancy and delves into the role of nutrition in supporting a healthy pregnancy and the growth and development of the unborn child.

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Dietetic Technician

Dietetic Technicians may find this course useful as it provides a comprehensive overview of nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy. This course builds upon the latest research and recommendations on nutrition-related aspects of pregnancy and delves into the role of nutrition in supporting a healthy pregnancy and the growth and development of the unborn child.

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Health Policy Analyst

Health Policy Analysts may use this course to build a foundation in nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy. The course covers topics such as the latest research findings and international recommendations on nutrition-related aspects of pregnancy, as well as the role of nutrition in supporting a healthy pregnancy and the growth and development of the unborn child.

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Food Policy Advocate

Food Policy Advocates may find this course useful, as it provides a general overview of nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy. This course builds upon the latest research and recommendations on nutrition-related aspects of pregnancy and delves into the role of nutrition in supporting a healthy pregnancy and the growth and development of the unborn child.

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Wellness Coach

Wellness Coaches may find this course useful, as it provides a general overview of nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy. This course builds upon the latest research and recommendations on nutrition-related aspects of pregnancy and delves into the role of nutrition in supporting a healthy pregnancy and the growth and development of the unborn child.

See salaries and explore the career path for Wellness Coach