“Good Nutrition is a foundation of a child’s survival, health, and development."
The first one thousand days of a child, or the moment they are conceived until they have reached two years of age, is a time when their body, brain, and immune system undergo significant developments, and during this phase, good nutrition is one of the child's most fundamental needs together with safety and security, good relationships, healthy environment, and time to play and learn. In fact, according to UNICEF (n.d.), well-nourished children are more capable of growing, learning, playing, and participating in the community as well as more resilient in the face of crisis.
Providing good nutrition in the womb and through early life is important for a child's future health. Studies have shown that the mother's diet are among the factors that affect their child's metabolism, immune system, and organ development. Moreover, there are also evidence proving that poor nutrition during pregnancy and early life increases their risk for obesity, heart disease, and stroke later on (pregnancybirth&baby, n.d.).
With these said, it is our responsibility as student nurses to educate our clients on good nutrition. It is our duty to instill in them the importance of eating a healthy diet during pregnancy, exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months, and then incorporating complementary food as their child grows. In addition, we should also emphasize the significance of teaching healthy eating habits to their children as soon as they start eating solid foods, as they will carry these on as they grow older.
References:
pregnancybirth&baby. (n.d.). The first 1,000 days. Pregnancy Birth and Baby. https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/the-first-1000-days#:%7E:text=The%20first%201%2C000%20days%20refers,system%20grows%20and%20develops%20significantly.
UNICEF. (n.d.). Nutrition. UNICEF | for Every Child. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://www.unicef.org/nutrition