[Pregnancy and nutrition].

Based on the active role of the placenta fetal nutrient supply is to a large degree independent on the nutrition of the mother. The fetus must be considered as a parasite within the maternal organism and only with extreme reduction in nutritional intake by the mother will an effect on fetal growth become apparent. Mild chronic forms of inadequate food intake may lead to depletion of maternal reserves, in particular of minerals and vitamins, and as a consequence of the extra demands during pregnancy supply of maternal tissues may be short. Special high risk groups for inadequate nutrition during pregnancy are defined and intense counseling of these mothers must be part of prenatal care. An increased intake of food with high nutritional value, i.e. a high content in minerals and vitamins relative to the caloric content, should be the basis of good nutrition in pregnancy. This will satisfy extra demands of these substances without increasing caloric intake.