Pregnancy and Pre-natal Vitamins
By Monica Nelson
Pre-natal vitamins are important to the health of a growing
baby. They are also important to pregnant mothers because
their bodies are going through so many changes.
Our diets today are often deficient in key nutrients found
in pre-natal vitamins that help a baby's development in the
womb. One deficiency that has been found is the lack of
enough folic acid, one of the B vitamins.
Rectifying vitamin deficiency can be done by modifying
your diet and by taking pre-natal vitamin supplements. It is
easiest for your body to absorb nutrients from foods, but since
it can be difficult to take in enough of those key vitamins and
minerals during pregnancy, most doctors recommend that you also
take pre-natal supplements.
The most important pre-natal vitamin is folic acid, which is the
synthetic form of the naturally occurring folate. If folic acid
is taken in the first four weeks of pregnancy, it can reduce
the risk of the baby having an incomplete spinal column,
or neural tube defect by up to 70%.
Because folic acid is most useful very early in the pregnancy,
most doctors recommend that women trying to conceive begin
supplementing their diet with 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid per
day. In fact the U.S. Public Health Service recommends that all
women of childbearing age take this supplement as a preventative
measure, in the case of an unplanned pregnancy. Many once-daily
multi-vitamin supplements include this in their product.
While folic acid is most important in the first trimester,
most doctors recommend it throughout the pregnancy. Spinach and
chicken liver are great natural sources of folate. Folate is
often added to breakfast cereals and breads; this addition will
be written on the nutrition label.
Calcium is another critical supplement for your baby for the
same reasons that it is important for you; calcium helps the
baby develop strong bones and teeth. One of the best
sources of calcium is cheddar cheese (real cheese, not the
plastic-like "cheese product" made from hydrogenated oil with
orange color added). Calcium is also found in yogurt, milk, kale, etc.
In addition to dairy products, calcium citrate is often added
to cereals and other non-dairy products like orange juice.
When taking calcium supplements it may be safest to take
calcium citrate which is made from citrus fruit.
Small amounts of vitamin D are important for calcium absorption.
The good news is that you can absorb this vitamin through
exposure to the sun. Most prenatal supplements provide this vitamin.
Iron is important for the baby's development of red blood cells,
which deliver oxygen to the baby. Supplementing iron into your diet
is mostly important for the mother's health. Insufficient iron might
lead to fatigue and anemia. On the other hand, too much iron
can hurt both the mother and the baby.
Be very careful with iron supplements!
The baby will generally get all of the iron he needs, even if
that means leaving the mom anemic. By the end of the pregnancy
a mother will have twice as much blood in her body as she did
before. Therefore pregnant women may need more iron as non-pregnant
women. Another important fact is that coffee and tea can
decrease iron absorption.
The best and safest way to get the right amount of iron is to
take the balance multi-vitamin and mineral pre-natal supplements
that your doctor recommends. You might save money if you ask your
doctor which over the counter pre-natal vitamins may contain the
same ingredients as prescription versions.
Pre-natal vitamin supplements are even more important for women
who have poor nutrition, women who are carrying twins, and women
who have a closely spaced pregnancy.
For women that are healthy and eat a balanced diet, pre-natal
supplements are still important to insure against the possibility that
the women are not getting enough of any given nutrient. Many women
who were careful to eat right were still found to be
low in folic acid for example.
Vitamin supplements, in particular those with iron, can be tough
to swallow for the expecting mother because of the
infamous 'morning sickness,' that is far from relegated to the morning hours.
Many women have found that beginning to take pre-natal vitamins
a month or more before conception can diminish morning sickness and
therefore make taking the pre-natal vitamins during pregnancy an
easier pill to swallow. Taking prenatal vitamins when you are
not pregnant does not cause any problems. These vitamins are
not that different than regular daily multi-vitamins, except that they do
not contain any herbs or herbal supplements that could cause
problems. Be very careful to avoid most herbal supplements when
pregnant. Talk to your doctor.
Note: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and
Drug Administration. Supplements are not intended to diagnose,
treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. All information
here is intended for general knowledge only and is not a
substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical
conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any
specific health issues and always consult your doctor before starting
any new supplement, diet or fitness regimen.
About the author:
Monica Nelson writes articles that offer helpful information on
subjects such as
women's health, weightloss,
pregnancy symptoms,
exercise equipment and affordable health insurance.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/
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