By Alan Kenyon
It is only natural that expectant mothers should want the very best for their babies and to that end, it is important to make sure that they are consuming the most nutritious foods for their unborn child. However, this may prove to be difficult due to nausea, cravings and loss of appetite for some foods.
One of the best ways to ensure that both mother and their baby are getting enough vitamins and minerals is to take prenatal vitamin supplements.
Many doctors will prescribe prenatal vitamins as early as six weeks into a pregnancy with some even advocating that they be taken if a woman is planning to conceive. The reasoning behind this is that it will help prevent certain birth defects.
Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated to ensure that both mother and baby receive the proper amount of vitamins and nutrients regardless of any abnormal eating habits during pregnancy. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can have negative effects on the growth and well being of the unborn child.
Folic acid is one of the minerals that are contained in prenatal vitamins and is an essential nutrient during pregnancy. As well as being important for the growth of the unborn child, Folic Acid has been shown to reduce the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
Calcium is one of the most important elements in an expectant moms diet as it is essential for the developing bone growth of the unborn child. However, prenatal vitamins do not always contain enough calcium while others do not contain any at all. The ones that do have it only contain around 250 mg whilst the recommended intake while pregnant is 1200 to 1500 milligrams. It is therefore important to pay close attention to the calcium content in prenatal vitamin supplements and to make up any shortfall with the consumption of dairy products.
Iron is another important mineral contained in prenatal vitamins and is responsible for helping the mother and the baby's blood to carry oxygen. Iron deficiencies can lead to severe birth defects for the baby as well as other complications for the mother.
Other vitamins and minerals included in prenatal vitamins include Vitamin D, Vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin E, vitamin B-12, and zinc. Each of these is important for the mother and her growing baby.
As with all supplements, prenatal vitamins are just that - supplements and to that end, they should not be taken in place of a nutritionally balanced diet. Apart from anything else, any vitamin supplement requires the nutrients found in food to be correctly absorbed by the body.
Many moms to be may feel that they know enough about nutrition and eat well enough without the need to take prenatal vitamins. However, it is important to be realistic about the nutrition that you can maintain while pregnant as nausea and loss of appetite can make a big difference to nutritional intake.
Even if you are lucky enough not to experience morning sickness and nausea, it can still be difficult to be sure that you are getting enough vitamins and minerals for both you and your baby. Best advice is to play it safe and take a prenatal vitamin even if it is just an insurance policy.
If you are confused or uncertain about which prenatal vitamins are best for you and your baby, talk with your doctor about your options.
It is only natural that expectant mothers should want the very best for their babies and to that end, it is important to make sure that they are consuming the most nutritious foods for their unborn child. However, this may prove to be difficult due to nausea, cravings and loss of appetite for some foods.
One of the best ways to ensure that both mother and their baby are getting enough vitamins and minerals is to take prenatal vitamin supplements.
Many doctors will prescribe prenatal vitamins as early as six weeks into a pregnancy with some even advocating that they be taken if a woman is planning to conceive. The reasoning behind this is that it will help prevent certain birth defects.
Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated to ensure that both mother and baby receive the proper amount of vitamins and nutrients regardless of any abnormal eating habits during pregnancy. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can have negative effects on the growth and well being of the unborn child.
Folic acid is one of the minerals that are contained in prenatal vitamins and is an essential nutrient during pregnancy. As well as being important for the growth of the unborn child, Folic Acid has been shown to reduce the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
Calcium is one of the most important elements in an expectant moms diet as it is essential for the developing bone growth of the unborn child. However, prenatal vitamins do not always contain enough calcium while others do not contain any at all. The ones that do have it only contain around 250 mg whilst the recommended intake while pregnant is 1200 to 1500 milligrams. It is therefore important to pay close attention to the calcium content in prenatal vitamin supplements and to make up any shortfall with the consumption of dairy products.
Iron is another important mineral contained in prenatal vitamins and is responsible for helping the mother and the baby's blood to carry oxygen. Iron deficiencies can lead to severe birth defects for the baby as well as other complications for the mother.
Other vitamins and minerals included in prenatal vitamins include Vitamin D, Vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin E, vitamin B-12, and zinc. Each of these is important for the mother and her growing baby.
As with all supplements, prenatal vitamins are just that - supplements and to that end, they should not be taken in place of a nutritionally balanced diet. Apart from anything else, any vitamin supplement requires the nutrients found in food to be correctly absorbed by the body.
Many moms to be may feel that they know enough about nutrition and eat well enough without the need to take prenatal vitamins. However, it is important to be realistic about the nutrition that you can maintain while pregnant as nausea and loss of appetite can make a big difference to nutritional intake.
Even if you are lucky enough not to experience morning sickness and nausea, it can still be difficult to be sure that you are getting enough vitamins and minerals for both you and your baby. Best advice is to play it safe and take a prenatal vitamin even if it is just an insurance policy.
If you are confused or uncertain about which prenatal vitamins are best for you and your baby, talk with your doctor about your options.
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