Two pregnancy-related questions

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Specializes in M/S, home health, LTC, rehab/orth.

These are questions I haven't been able to find answers to in my research:

1) What kind of foods make a fetus grow the most? I have read two different sides of the stoy: one, that nutritious foods are what causes the baby to grow and not the amount of calories, then I turned around and read in another book that high fat/simple carbohydrate foods cause the baby to gain "too much" weight, it was saying women who eat foods like pastries/doughnuts end up having large babies. I've seen women who ate nothing but junk and gained tons of weight have tiny babies and women who ate very healthy and didn't gain a ton of weight have very large babies, so this confused me and I can't find a straight answer anywhere else I've looked. I know a well-balanced diet is best, of course, I was just curious as to whether babies grow from the nutrients, calories or what.

2) Can dilation really go backwards? I've heard stories of women going backwards in dilation, but is that really the case or is it just b/c perhaps a different person checked the cervix, or one exam was done during a contraction and one not during a question?

Thanks for any responses.

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Hi -

I'm coming out of lurkdom to give my 2 cents on your second question - as far as cervical dilation going "backwards" from my experience ( 5yrs L&D) this is caused by swelling of the cervix from either premature maternal pushing / bearing down ( prior to being 10cm), or some kind of fetal malpresentation/rough manipulation of that cervix that causes local trauma to the cervix. There may be other reasons too like maternal fluid overload, etc. that can cause swelling, not sure. But my big point is that depending on examiner, dilation/effacement/station can vary - it's a pretty objective estimate - it shouldn't be, but for some reason it is. I know were i work we have an OB who is very "generous" and another who is "conservative". So basically it's best to have the same person do all or most of the Vag exams -the most important thing to know is if there is progress being made. So you are correct is saying that it depends on the examiner.

Sorry I have no answers for your first question.

Hope that Helps- OBNurseryRN2006 :lol2:

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I can only speak from personal experience but I followed the Bradley diet fairly closely with my first (125+ grams of protein a day). My baby was 8'11". With my second baby I got a little lazy and didn't do it and he was 7'8". So there is an argument for the Bradley method and protein building big babies. I gained about the same amount of weight with both. They were about the same length, my first was a chubby baby.

I have heard from a couple of instructors that people who follow the Bradley diet tend to have big babies.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Great answers! Welcome to the boards and glad you are here!

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Specializes in OB, ortho/neuro, home care, office.

I worked a short stint in L&D, during that time we had a patient indeed 'went backwards' in dilation. Fact was she actually had two cervix's if that makes any sense. The outer one was dilated to 7 and the inner one was only dilated to 3. We thought we were progressing quite nicely (wasn't me who checked, it was a 30 year well seasoned nurse - I checked after her and felt the same thing). Turned out we had been actively laboring a patient who could''ve literally been weeks before actually due. But was indeed contracting.

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Specializes in Peds ER.

I can tell you also from my own personal experience. With my first child, I was young and dumb and ate all the wrong things, gained too much weight, and she weighed 7.3. With my second, I really ate right, gained minimal weight, exercised, he weighed 10 pounds. I have seen many of my friends eat and gain like there's no tomorrow and end up with little babies, so I don't know if I believe the myth of eating fatty foods brings chubby babies. I have no idea about your second question. Interesting questions though!

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Just a guess here........ There are many factors that influence the weight..... I imagine nutrition would be one of the top ones....... but things like the mother's physical activity, genetics, etc…. it seems that these things are connected. I am guessing this is a question that research is probably still uncovering! I would love to hear if someone has any research to share with us!

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Also, if you read some of the crunchier childbirth books you will see the theory of reverse dilation a lot. Many advance the theory that under extreme stress a woman's body and hormones can actually halt or reverse dilation (a possible explanation for all those failures to progress in the hospital?). I think it's Ina May's "Sphincter theory" that says the cervix is a sphincter and she has to be relaxed and focused to allow it to open up and let something out (kind of like another sphincter I know;) ). Just an idea that some home birth and natural birth advocates have.

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I cant help with the nutrition question but have felt a 10 cm cervix held open with a bulging bag go back to 7 cm when the amniotomy was performed. Of course the pt was draped and nursery and all were in the room but waht can you do. The possible alternative was a nurse delivery if I had not called the Doc and that is why they get the big bucks....:lol2:

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