This concise, three-author text is an excellent introduction to the topic of nutrition in pregnancy. It begins with a unique chapter on the historical basis of maternal nutritional recommendations. This chapter clearly traces the evolution of nutritional recommendations during pregnancy.
In the next three chapters, the authors discuss the nutritional basis for reproductive health and evaluate how anthropometric and sociodemographic characteristics can influence the outcome of pregnancy. Following this, prenatal diet, calcium, and iron metabolism are covered in detail with clear recommendations for nutritional intake.
The authors then discuss the adverse effects of smoking and alcohol on pregnancy. The smoker's modified nutritional needs are highlighted, and nutritional methods of minimizing the adverse effects of smoking are put forth. Therapeutic nutrition for common conditions seen during pregnancy is discussed in chapters on diabetes mellitus, meternalfetal ketonuria, and multiple gestation. These chapters contain a fund of practical information written in an easily