Enteral nutrition is recommended initially over parenteral nutrition in pregnancy to avoid several complications. Which of the following is a complication more common with PN that EN helps avoid?

• A. Pneumothorax
• B. Infections (due to immunologic suppression)
• C. Gallbladder dysmotility
• D. Intrahepatic cholestasis

Answer: (B)

Entering nutrition protects the body's defenses by keeping the gut lining intact and supporting gut-associated immune activity. When nutrients are delivered through the GI tract, the mucosal barrier and local immune tissues stay more robust, which helps prevent bacteria from crossing into the bloodstream. Parenteral nutrition bypasses the gut and relies on a central venous catheter; this setup carries a higher risk of catheter-related infections and systemic sepsis due to immune modulation from lack of enteral stimulation plus the invasive line itself. So, the infection risk tied to parenteral nutrition—often tied to catheter use and immune impairment—is the complication enteral feeding helps avoid. While central-line–related issues like pneumothorax or PN-associated hepatobiliary problems can occur, the broader and more common infection risk remains the primary distinction favoring enteral nutrition.