El hastío, la náusea, lo absurdo

As the questions were the same for the two states, before and during pregnancy, a student’s t-test was used to evaluate the significance of the answers obtained in the different profiles of our questionnaires. The statistically significant data is presented beneath in graph formats. Pie charts were also used for each question that was significant with broke down to related sub categories to emphasize any variations. For comparison purposes the answers were grouped as before and during pregnancy and the mean values of the responses are shown in the representative graphs below.

The subjects response to the question of how many portions per week would they eat pies, pastries or fried food, before and during pregnancy, shows from the pie chart below that there is a wide variation in their responses; with the prospective mothers modifying their eating habits during pregnancy compared to before and adopting healthier eating patterns.

Figure 3.2: Pie charts of the answers to the question: How many meals per week would include any of following: pies, pastries, fried food? (DP: during pregnancy, BP: before pregnancy). Light consumption (1-2 portions), moderate consumption (3-4 portions) and excess consumption (5 or more portions).

When grouped according to the pregnancy state the answers indicated that the average number of portions that women were consuming during pregnancy (moderate consumption) were higher to the average portion number consumed before pregnancy (Fig. 3.3).

Figure 3.3: How many meals per week would include any of following: pies, pastries, fried food?

(DP: during pregnancy, BP: before pregnancy), P = 0.002.

Pregnant women also increased their daily intake in iron rich foods such as lean red meat, chicken, etc., and this is depicted in the pie chart (Fig. 3.4) which is in agreement with the analysis performed in the grouped categories showing that the average number of iron rich food consumed on a daily basis was significanlty higher during pregnancy than before (Fig.

3.5).

Figure 3.4: Pie charts of the answers to the question: Do you eat iron rich foods every day? (E.g. lean red meat, chicken, etc.) (DP: during pregnancy, BP: before pregnancy).

Figure 3.5: Do you eat iron rich foods every day? (E.g. lean red meat, chicken, etc.) (DP: during pregnancy, BP: before pregnancy), P = 6.0 x 10^-7

The participants reported to have increased their daily consumption of dairy products such as:

cheese, milk, yoghurt or calcium enriched milk during pregnancy. The pie charts below (Fig.

3.6) are indicative of this increase.

Figure 3.6: Pie charts of the answers to the question: Do you eat 2 or more serving of cheese, milk, yoghurt or calcium enriched milk/day? (DP: during pregnancy, BP: before pregnancy).

Also when the answers were examined in the grouped categories it was seen that the women increased significanlty their average servings of cheese, milk, yoghurt or calcium enriched milk/day to 2 or more during their pregnancy (Fig. 3.7).

Figure 3.7: Do you eat 2 or more serving of cheese, milk, yoghurt or calcium enriched milk/day?

(DP: during pregnancy, BP: before pregnancy), P = 0.004.

Furthermore, the daily consumption of caffeine in the form of coffee, black tea or other beverages containing caffeine showed to be modified during pregnancy compared to the

drinking habits of the women before pregnancy as seen in the pie charts presented below (Fig.3.8).

Figure 3.8: Pie charts of the answers to the question: How many cups of coffee, black tea or caffeine containing beverages do you drink/day? (DP: during pregnancy, BP: before pregnancy). Numbers indicate the number of cups.

Also the average of the responses obtained in the two categories is in agreement with the observation that the prospective mothers had significantly reduced (85% reported to drink 1 or fewer cups per day) their intake of caffeine on a daily basis (Fig. 3.9).

Figure 3.9: How many cups of coffee, black tea or caffeine containing beverages do you drink/day?

(DP: during pregnancy, BP: before pregnancy), P = 2.0 x 20^-18

To the question of how much soda, sugar-containing drinks do you normally have each day again it was evident that the women had modified their habits to meet the “guidelines” of a healthier approach during pregnancy as the number of responses stating to drink 1 or fewer during pregnancy was increased compared to before (Fig. 3.10).

Figure 3.10: Pie charts of the answers to the question: How much soda, sugar drinks do you normally have each day? (DP: during pregnancy, BP: before pregnancy). Numbers indicate the number of drinks.

This again agrees with the two category analysis performed were a significant reduction in the average number of drinks consumed containing sugar that was reported during pregnancy in comparison with the intake before pregnancy (Fig. 3.11).

Figure 3.11: How much soda, sugar drinks do you normally have each day? (DP: during pregnancy, BP: before pregnancy), P = 1.4 x 10^-15

In a similar trend, consumption of alcoholic beverages on a weekly basis showed a noticeable change between the two states of pregnancy and according to the numbers of beverages consumed (Fig. 3.12).

Figure 3.12: Pie charts of the answers to the question: How many alcoholic beverages do you consume on a weekly basis? (DP: during pregnancy, BP: before pregnancy). Numbers indicate the number of drinks.

Significanlty higher was the average consumption reported before pregancy of alcoholic beverages compared to during pregancy (Fig. 3.13).

Figure 3.13: How many alcoholic beverages do you consume on a weekly basis? (DP: during pregnancy, BP: before pregnancy), P = 9.6 x 10^-7

Modifiction of the consumption of fast food was also observed when sub category analysis was performed as seen in the pie charts below (Fig. 3.14) with the percentage of women reporting not to comsume any fast food at all during their pregnancies rising when compared to..consumption..before..pregnancy.

Figure 3.14: Pie charts of the answers to the question: How many times a week do you eat fast food?

(DP: during pregnancy, BP: before pregnancy). Numbers indicate the frequency in a week’s period.

When analysis was performed in the pregnancy states, as seen below the weekly preferance to fast food had significanlty decreased during their pregnancy compared to before pregnancy. These results are depicted in Fig. 3.15.

Figure 3.15: How many times a week do you eat fast food? (DP: during pregnancy, BP: before pregnancy), P = 0.0002