SCI 131 Exam 3 V2 | SCI 131 Introduction
to Nutrition | Q&A with Rationale (SCI131
Exam 3) | Nightingale College
1. What is the recommended weight gain for a pregnant woman whose pre-pregnancy Body
Mass Index (BMI) is within the normal range (18.5-24.9)?
A. 11 to 20 pounds
B. 15 to 25 pounds
C. 25 to 35 pounds
D. 28 to 40 pounds
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A woman with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI is advised to gain between 25 and
35 pounds to ensure optimal fetal growth. This range accounts for the weight of the fetus,
placenta, amniotic fluid, and increased maternal tissue and blood volume. Gaining within
this recommended range reduces the risk of having a low-birth-weight infant or surgical
delivery complications.
2. Which vitamin is critically important during the periconceptional period to prevent neural
tube defects such as spina bifida?
A. Vitamin C
B. Folate (Folic Acid)
,C. Vitamin B12
D. Vitamin A
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Folate is essential for DNA synthesis and cell division, making it vital during the
first few weeks of pregnancy when the neural tube is forming. A deficiency in this nutrient
is strongly linked to neural tube defects in the developing embryo. Health organizations
recommend that all women of childbearing age consume 400 mcg of folic acid daily
through supplements or fortified foods.
3. During the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, how many additional calories are
generally required daily?
A. 100 and 200 calories respectively
B. 340 and 450 calories respectively
C. 500 and 700 calories respectively
D. Additional calories are not needed if taking vitamins
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Energy needs increase as the pregnancy progresses to support the metabolic
demands of the fetus and the mother. In the second trimester, an additional 340 calories
per day are needed, increasing to 450 calories in the third trimester. These extra calories
should ideally come from nutrient-dense foods to support healthy weight gain and
development.
, 4. Which hormone is primarily responsible for the ‘let-down reflex’ or the ejection of milk
from the lactating breast?
A. Prolactin
B. Estrogen
C. Oxytocin
D. Progesterone
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Oxytocin is released from the posterior pituitary gland in response to a baby’s
suckling, causing the contraction of myoepithelial cells around the milk ducts. While
prolactin stimulates milk production, oxytocin is what actually forces the milk to be ejected.
This reflex can also be triggered by the psychological stimulus of hearing the baby cry.
5. What is the yellowish, translucent fluid secreted by the mammary glands for the first few
days after birth?
A. Colostrum
B. Hindmilk
C. Foremilk
D. Casein
Correct Answer: A
to Nutrition | Q&A with Rationale (SCI131
Exam 3) | Nightingale College
1. What is the recommended weight gain for a pregnant woman whose pre-pregnancy Body
Mass Index (BMI) is within the normal range (18.5-24.9)?
A. 11 to 20 pounds
B. 15 to 25 pounds
C. 25 to 35 pounds
D. 28 to 40 pounds
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A woman with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI is advised to gain between 25 and
35 pounds to ensure optimal fetal growth. This range accounts for the weight of the fetus,
placenta, amniotic fluid, and increased maternal tissue and blood volume. Gaining within
this recommended range reduces the risk of having a low-birth-weight infant or surgical
delivery complications.
2. Which vitamin is critically important during the periconceptional period to prevent neural
tube defects such as spina bifida?
A. Vitamin C
B. Folate (Folic Acid)
,C. Vitamin B12
D. Vitamin A
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Folate is essential for DNA synthesis and cell division, making it vital during the
first few weeks of pregnancy when the neural tube is forming. A deficiency in this nutrient
is strongly linked to neural tube defects in the developing embryo. Health organizations
recommend that all women of childbearing age consume 400 mcg of folic acid daily
through supplements or fortified foods.
3. During the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, how many additional calories are
generally required daily?
A. 100 and 200 calories respectively
B. 340 and 450 calories respectively
C. 500 and 700 calories respectively
D. Additional calories are not needed if taking vitamins
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Energy needs increase as the pregnancy progresses to support the metabolic
demands of the fetus and the mother. In the second trimester, an additional 340 calories
per day are needed, increasing to 450 calories in the third trimester. These extra calories
should ideally come from nutrient-dense foods to support healthy weight gain and
development.
, 4. Which hormone is primarily responsible for the ‘let-down reflex’ or the ejection of milk
from the lactating breast?
A. Prolactin
B. Estrogen
C. Oxytocin
D. Progesterone
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Oxytocin is released from the posterior pituitary gland in response to a baby’s
suckling, causing the contraction of myoepithelial cells around the milk ducts. While
prolactin stimulates milk production, oxytocin is what actually forces the milk to be ejected.
This reflex can also be triggered by the psychological stimulus of hearing the baby cry.
5. What is the yellowish, translucent fluid secreted by the mammary glands for the first few
days after birth?
A. Colostrum
B. Hindmilk
C. Foremilk
D. Casein
Correct Answer: A
