Many women that plan to be pregnant wonder if it is good or bad to take
prenatal vitamins during pregnancy. Although eating healthy is
recommended, women are encouraged to take the Best Prenatal Vitamins during pregnancy as they provide all the essential nutrients and vitamins that are hard to get from meals alone.
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| Best Prenatal Vitamins |
What are Prenatal Vitamins?
Prenatal vitamins are supplements for women before, during and after
pregnancy, especially if the mother decides to breastfeed the infant.
Prenatal vitamins are similar to multivitamins, but their formula is
specially developed for the growing needs of pregnant women. For
example, essential nutrients such as folic acid, iron and calcium are in
excess in prenatal vitamins, while vitamin A is reduced or even absent
due to adverse effects on fetal development. In fact, pregnant women
require twice the dose of folic acid needed for a healthy person and
almost 50% more calcium than before pregnancy. Calcium during pregnancy
plays an important role in the development of the baby’s bones.
What are other benefits of prenatal vitamins?
- Reduces the risk of childbirth with neural tube defects
- Prevents loss of bone density
- Helps transport oxygen in the blood for both mother and child
- Covers the nutritional deficiencies that the pregnant mother has
- Helps build a strong and healthy DNA of the baby
During pregnancy, the next vitamins are recommended:
- Folic acid – the most important vitamin. Need to be taken before and during the first three months of pregnancy. Not only vital for proper DNA synthesis of the fetus, but also can reduce significantly the chances of a child born with neural tube defects such as anencephaly.
- Iron – it is necessary for the formation of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin has the role to help the body carry oxygen in the blood for both the mother and child. It is especially important that pregnant women have no iron deficiency in late pregnancy, as this is the period when the baby’s iron is needed more from the mother.
- Calcium – for strong and healthy bones. It is very needed for pregnant women to have strong bones to be able to support the growing baby. Moreover, calcium is responsible for the formation of healthy bones and tissue growth of the baby.
- Vitamin D – this fat-soluble vitamin is needed for the formation of healthy bones and teeth of the baby. It helps maintaining calcium and phosphorus levels.
- Iodine – its absence can cause mental retardation.
- Zinc – Zinc absence is correlated with low birth weight.
- Selenium – mothers with selenium deficiency risk to give birth to babies with muscle weaknesses,
- Magnesium – Magnesium levels in the body decreases with the pregnancy stage, leading to preeclampsia, number one cause of fetal death in United States.
It is recommended for every women planning to have a child to take the best prenatal vitamins, but especially:
- Vegetarians and vegans
- With lactose intolerance
- Women that are smoking cigarettes
- Women with gastrointestinal problems (Crohn’s disease)
- Women whose digestive system does not absorb nutrients properly
- Women with certain chronic conditions
What are The Best Prenatal Vitamins?
Although the brands come in different options, below yu will find
some guidelines about what to look for when you’ll buy prenatal
vitamins:
(Read the label carefully, and see your doctor before taking any prenatal vitamins)
400-600 mg folic acid
27 mg Iron
200-300 mg Calcium
3 mg Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
2 mg Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
20 mg Niacin
6 mcg Vitamin B12
400 IU Vitamin D
15 mg Zinc
70-85 mg Vitamin C
10-15 mg Vitamin E
200 mcg Iodine
700 mg Phosphorus
60 mcg Selenium
3 mg Fluor
27 mg Iron
200-300 mg Calcium
3 mg Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
2 mg Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
20 mg Niacin
6 mcg Vitamin B12
400 IU Vitamin D
15 mg Zinc
70-85 mg Vitamin C
10-15 mg Vitamin E
200 mcg Iodine
700 mg Phosphorus
60 mcg Selenium
3 mg Fluor
Advanced vitamin formulas nowadays may also include DHA. DHA, docosahexaenoic acid,
is an chain of Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega-3 are polyunsaturated fats
(the good fats) which our body needs, but cannot produce them alone and
needs to be introduced into the body from other sources. In many
scientific studies you will find to show effective development of the
fetal brain.
I hope you found this article useful and even if it didn’t covered
all the science behind prenatal vitamins, one should have a basic
knowledge now. Remember, always consult your doctor before taking any Prenatal Vitamins.
