What Can Prenatal Vitamins Do For Expecting Mothers?
Admin
March 25, 2022
Having a healthy diet and getting the right nutrients are important for any individual. Especially so, when you are pregnant. As an expecting mother, nutritional needs are higher and important for a healthy pregnancy.
Even with a wide variety of healthy food, a healthy diet isn’t enough to provide you with the nutrients you and your baby need. It is difficult to get all the nutrients from your diet alone.
To fill in the gaps to support both your body and your baby’s growth and development, prenatal vitamins are beneficial to expecting mothers.
Prenatal vitamins are supplements for pregnant women or those who are trying to get pregnant, which contain daily vitamins and minerals you need before & during pregnancy. In short, it is a pregnancy multivitamin!
When should one take prenatal vitamins?
Doctors recommend taking prenatal vitamins at least a month before you try to get pregnant.
The first few weeks of pregnancy is a crucial time for fetal health and development. Taking prenatal vitamins can also help reduce the risks of birth defects. It is also advisable to take them throughout your entire pregnancy. But always remember to consult your doctor first before taking anything, especially if you are already pregnant!
But why should you take prenatal vitamins? Does it have benefits? Here are benefits of prenatal vitamins!
-
1. Reduces the risk of your child developing birth defects
Getting enough vitamins and nutrients, specifically Folic Acid, during early pregnancy or even before you conceive can reduce the risk of developing neural tube defects such as spina bifida (cleft spine) and anencephaly (improper development of the brain and the skull). Folic acid is the most important vitamin to take when you are planning to get pregnant. Folic Acid is a B vitamin that the cells in your body need for growing and developing. Taking sufficient nutrients from prenatal vitamins, like Folic Acid, reduce your baby’s risk of being born with the said defects by up to 70%
-
2. May reduce the risk of developing preeclampsia
For moms, preeclampsia is a common risk during pregnancy. It is a dangerous condition characterized by high blood pressure, fluid retention, and excess protein in the urine. Taking prenatal vitamins can help lower the risk of developing preeclampsia.
-
3. Helps prevent iron-deficiency anemia
When pregnant, women need a lot of iron approximately twice as much as before conceiving. It is because your pregnancy body uses iron to create hemoglobin or blood for both you and your baby. Taking prenatal vitamins with iron can help in preventing iron-deficiency anemia, a condition that can cause extreme fatigue.
-
4. Reduces the risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight and infant mortality
Prenatal vitamins ensure you get enough iron during pregnancy and can help prevent iron-deficiency, helping reduce the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and infant mortality.
-
5. Helps provide enough calcium for you and your child’s development
Your baby needs calcium as well to develop strong bones and teeth, a healthy heart, nerves, and muscles, and to have a normal heart rhythm and blood-clotting. As for the mother, getting sufficient calcium can help reduce the risk of preeclampsia and hypertension. Prenatal vitamins can provide both you and your baby the calcium you need.
-
6. Gives you the peace of mind knowing mother and baby’s nutritional needs are met.
As nutritional requirements during pregnancy are higher, having a healthy diet may be not enough to meet your needs. Eating a healthy diet AND taking prenatal vitamins prescribed to you by your doctor can give you that peace of mind that both you and your child are getting the nutrition you need.
Already considering taking prenatal vitamins? Here’s how to choose the best prenatal vitamins for you!
When choosing the best prenatal vitamins for you, take in consideration of the following:
-
1. Nutritional Content:
Make sure that you choose prenatal vitamins that are formulated to meet the nutritional demands of pregnancy.
-
2. Ingredients:
Choose those that are made from high-quality ingredients and free of additives and preservatives.
-
3. Approved by your Doctor:
Before taking anything, always remember to have a consultation with your doctor first, especially if you have pregnancy complications or other health concerns. Make sure that your doctor approves of the prenatal vitamins you are to take.
Taking prenatal vitamins is recommended for expecting mothers as it boasts a lot of benefits. A well-rounded prenatal vitamin can help you meet the nutrients you and your baby needs before, during and even after pregnancy.
Remember, to always consult with your doctor first before taking anything!
sources: mayoclinic.org, healthline.com, plannedparenthood.org, freepik.com
