Pregnancy

Pregnancy and Prenatal Vitamins

For a mother's health, and the health of her baby, she is advised to take prenatal vitamins during pregnancy. These are specially formulated multivitamins that make up for any nutritional deficiencies in the mother's diet. While the supplements contain numerous vitamins and minerals, folic acid, iron, and calcium content are especially important for pregnant women.

Why Do Pregnant Women Need Folic Acid, Iron, and Calcium?

Folic acid can reduce your risk of having a baby with a serious birth defect of the brain and spinal cord, called the "neural tube." A baby with spina bifida, the most common neural tube defect, is born with a spine that is not closed. The exposed nerves are damaged, leaving the child with varying degrees of paralysis, incontinence, and sometimes mental retardation.

Neural tube defects develop in the first 28 days after conception, before many women realize they are pregnant. Because about half of all pregnancies are unplanned, we recommend that all women of childbearing age get 400 micrograms of folic acid each day. In fact, we suggest nutrients, such as breads, buns, and bagels, which are fortified with extra folic acid. A woman who has had a prior child with a neural tube defect should discuss the appropriate dose of folic acid with her doctor before her next pregnancy. Studies have shown that taking a larger dose up to 4,000 micrograms at least one month before and during the first trimester may be beneficial.

Other than getting these nutrients from easy to use vitamin and supplement tablets, there are natural sources of folic acid such as, green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, and citrus fruits. It's also found in many fortified breakfast cereals.

Iron helps both the mother and baby's blood carry oxygen.

Click here for the combination Iron Folic Acid Vitamin Supplement in one tablet.

Calcium

Calcium during pregnancy can prevent a new mother from losing her own bone density as the fetus uses the mineral for bone growth.

Click here to review our calcium supplement.

While a daily vitamin supplement is no substitute for a healthy diet, most women need supplements to make sure they get adequate levels of these minerals. Ask your doctor or midwife to review this website so they can best help you in getting right amount of vitamins and supplements you need before during and after your pregnant.

Other key vitamins and supplement pregnant women should take.

Daily Multi-Vitamin

Vitamin E

Vitamin B

Fruit & Vegetable Tablets