A Mother’s Guide to Essential Pregnancy Vitamins and Supplements
Pregnancy is a new journey for a woman, rather we can say it is a journey of transformation. It is an amazing feeling for a mom-to-be carrying a little bun in her oven, nurturing her, and protecting her with all effort till it blooms outside. She goes through a lot of physical pain, hurdles, anxiety, and hormonal shifting, but still manages to stay happy with the belief that her struggle will be worth it once she delivers her baby safely into this world.
However, proper intake of vitamins and supplements is important for the overall health of a mother and her baby.
Let us have a look at vitamins and supplements that are essential for a healthy pregnancy!
- Folic Acid: Folic Acid helps prevent neural tube defects in a baby’s spine and brain. Sources of folic acid are green leafy vegetables, fortified cereals, beans, and supplements.
- Iron: It plays a vital role in the prevention of anemia during pregnancy, which can be obtained from red meat, poultry, beans, and supplements as per recommendation.
- Calcium: It helps the baby’s bones and teeth. Calcium is mainly present in dairy products, and fortified plant-based milk.
- Vitamin D: Helps in bone health and calcium absorption. Sources are fatty fish, sunlight, and supplements are required for limited exposure to sunlight.
- Vitamin B6: It helps to deal with morning sickness which is a common problem in pregnancy and also takes care of the nervous system.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids (DHA): It helps in a baby’s eye and brain development, They can be obtained from fatty fish like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds.
- Vitamin C: A main source to regulate the immune system and help in iron absorption. Usually, citrus fruits like oranges and berries contain large amounts of Vitamin C.
- Iodine: Regulates thyroid function and helps in a baby’s brain development.
- Prenatal Supplements: Prenatal Supplements are mandatory to take during pregnancy as they ensure proper nutrition intake and help in the overall growth of a baby.
The Benefits of Taking Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins play the most significant role in encouraging a super healthy pregnancy. A balanced diet indeed fulfills all the nutrition required for mother and baby, but still adding a prenatal vitamin to this diet helps in overall health throughout every step of pregnancy.
A body goes through a lot of transformation during pregnancy and its nutritional needs become different. To cope with this, prenatal vitamins help to fill all the gaps that a mother’s body requires! Parallel to food sources, prenatal vitamins also have more iron, calcium, and folic acid compared to regular multivitamins. Folic acid is a crucial part of the pregnancy diet that prevents neural tube birth defects of a baby, hence adult women are recommended to take folic acid supplements, and also the reason required more by pregnant women.
What to Look for in a Prenatal Vitamin
Once you decide to choose a prenatal supplement, you must go through the labels to know the specifications of vitamins and minerals.
It is advised to look for a prenatal containing:
- Folic acid
- Iron
- Vitamin B12
- Omega fatty acids
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Zinc
But you also need to check the suitable dosage as some prenatals have high vitamins and minerals. It is always better to have a consultation with your healthcare provider before taking any supplements. You must also check the level seals for quality assurance.
How to Choose the Right Prenatal Vitamin for You
Before choosing the right prenatal vitamin, it is always advisable to consider your personal choice and preferences. Many of us have common health issues like allergies to certain ingredients or food, medical or religious restrictions.
It is important to check for the additional ingredients before purchasing as this might not be good for you and the baby as well. Then comes the serving size, as often overdose of vitamins and minerals can trigger nausea, indigestion, headache, and other issues. Again, less intake can increase the chance of your baby’s birth defects.
So, it is recommended to check the serving size before buying your prenatal. Consider not buying gummies as they lack essential minerals and nutrients.
Conclusion
Prenatal vitamins fill up the loopholes of your nutritional requirements all through your pregnancy journey and even after the delivery of your baby. However, you must enhance your preferences for healthy food as doing that will not only keep you happy and strong but also support your baby’s future health.
FAQs:
Yes, Folic acid is also known as folate and is important during pregnancy as it helps prevent neural tube defects in babies.
Yes, Pregnafit contains CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10), which is vital for energy production and supports overall maternal health during pregnancy.
Yes, Pregnafit contains digestive enzymes to reduce digestive discomfort which is often experienced during pregnancy.
Frequent urination is common during pregnancy due to hormonal changes in the body and the growing uterus pressing on the bladder.
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