A nurse is educating a pregnant client on what food to eat and what to avoid during her pregnancy. Which of the following precautions should a pregnant client take regarding her nutritional requirements?

Question

A) Limit folic acid intake
B) Limit caffeine intake
C) Limit fluid intake
D) Avoid starchy food

Answer 1

B
Feedback:
The nurse must tell the client to limit caffeine intake. Caffeine may contribute to mastitis, an inflammation and swelling of breast tissue in the woman that can cause irritability in the fetus, especially if the mother is breastfeeding. Caffeine also crosses the placenta during pregnancy. The client should not limit folic acid. In fact, her daily intake of folic acid should increase because it helps to prevent congenital neural tube defects. Increased fluid intake assists in kidney and bowel function in pregnancy and, therefore, it should not be limited. The nurse should not tell the client to avoid starchy food; she can have starchy food just before bedtime if she wakes up feeling very hungry.