Maternal and child nutrition encompasses a wide range of meanings, depending on the country in which the mother resides. In summary, the goal is to bring a mother and her child to a state of optimal health and nutrition to combat diseases, disorders and deficiencies that may arise and put the mother and child at risk before, during or after pregnancy. Unfortunately, many developing countries lack the capacity to provide quality care to their citizens, and Jamaica is no exception. In Jamaica, common deficiencies are associated with mother and child nutrition, such as anemia, vitamin A deficiency, and iodine deficiency10. These deficiencies can also affect a mother before conception and after the birth of the child. Nutrition of the mother and child can also be characterized separately. According to the World Health Organization, a mother's nutrition is characterized by moderate to severe thinness, underweight, overweight or obese10. Weight is measured by body mass index (BMI) values10. BMI is a weight-for-height classification for adults10. It is defined as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters (kg/m2)10. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 would be considered normal weight for an adult10. Therefore, a body weight above or below the recommended average during pregnancy could lead to serious complications for mother and baby. Anemia can also affect a mother during pregnancy and is a worldwide problem in developing countries and the English-speaking Caribbean4, 6. WHO defines anemia in pregnant women as a hemoglobin concentration < 110 g/l at sea level10. It is important to note that the Jamaican standards for anemia vary depending on the weeks of gestation, while the WHO standards for anemia for the hemoglobin level...... half of the article...... ernay, J., & Grantham-McGregor, S (2004). Feasibility of integrating early stimulation into primary care for undernourished Jamaican children: a randomized, cluster-controlled trial. British Medical Journal, 329(7457), 89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmj.38132.503472.7CSurkan, P.J., Kennedy, C.E., Hurley, K.M., & Black, M.M. (2011). Maternal depression and early childhood growth in developing countries: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 89(8), 607-605D. http://dx.doi.org/10.2471%2FBLT.11.088187 United Nations Children's Fund. (2003). Jamaica. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/jamaica_2166.htmlWorld Health Organization. (2010). Country profile indicators: interpretative guide. Information system on the nutritional panorama. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/nutrition/nlis_interpretation_guide.pdf