If you are pregnant, or trying to get pregnant, there are extra steps that you can take to keep yourself and your baby healthy. Whether it be eating lots of fruits and vegetables, partaking in light exercise, or making sure you get enough sleep, there are dozens of ways to look after your baby during pregnancy. One great way to make sure that you and your baby are getting all the nutrients you need is to take prenatal vitamins and supplements. Chat with your doctor about which pregnancy vitamins and supplements are right for you and your pregnancy.
Staying Healthy While Pregnant
Above all, it’s important to prioritize your health while pregnant, or trying to become pregnant. A happy healthy mother will help your happy healthy baby. Make sure you’re aware of dietary guidance for pregnant women, exercise suggestions, and the benefits of extra measures like a prenatal vitamin. But most of all, stay healthy! Look after your baby by looking after yourself. Here are some tips on how to stay healthy while pregnant.
What are Prenatal Vitamins and Supplements?
Prenatal vitamins and supplements are made for pregnant women to supply their bodies with healthy vitamins and minerals, supporting a healthy pregnancy. Eating a healthy diet can get you most of the vitamins and minerals you and your baby will need, but taking pregnancy vitamins and supplements made for pregnant women can support your healthy pregnancy even more.
What are the Benefits of Prenatal Vitamins and Supplements?
During pregnancy, your body has different nutritional needs to support both you and your baby. Prenatal vitamins, or pregnancy vitamins, are formulated to the specific needs of pregnant women to provide health benefits throughout your pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins are higher in iron, calcium, and folic acid than regular vitamins.
Which Prenatal Vitamins and Supplements Should You Take?
Since pregnant women have different nutritional needs, it’s a good idea to understand why that is and which vitamins you need the most of during your pregnancy. Ideally, you will be able to get most of these vitamins and nutrients, but most prenatal multivitamins will give you a healthy dose of all of the necessary vitamins and minerals you will need in your pregnancy.
These are the primary minerals and vitamins important during pregnancy that you will find in prenatal vitamins, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. It’s best to talk to your doctor before taking any supplements. In some cases, your doctor may write you a prescription for a specific pregnancy vitamin.
Folic Acid
Folic acid is particularly important for pregnant women, as it can prevent neural tube birth defects. In fact, it’s recommended that all women who are child-bearing age take folic acid, but the higher levels in prenatal vitamins will help to protect you and your baby.
Calcium
Calcium is an important part of any diet, as it helps strengthen bones and teeth. But it is also important for your baby’s development during pregnancy for the same reasons. By ensuring you consume the daily recommended amount of calcium, which is about 1,000 mg for women 19-50, you are keeping yourself and your baby safe with strong teeth and bones.
Iron
Yet another critical supplement, regardless of whether you’re pregnant or not, iron is good for helping your red blood cells deliver oxygen throughout your body. Proper amounts of iron can also help prevent your baby from being born underweight. Getting the necessary amount of iron during pregnancy helps your red blood cells deliver oxygen to your baby.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is especially important during pregnancy, especially as a way to maximize the benefits of your iron supplement. Vitamin C can help your body absorb iron, but it is also important for healthy gums, teeth and bones.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A has a number of benefits that will help both you and your baby. From healthy skin and eyesight to bone growth, Vitamin A is found in most prenatal multivitamins.
Vitamin D
Similar to Vitamin A, Vitamin D helps with your baby’s bone growth and teeth development. It also helps with healthy skin and eyesight.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 have many different benefits, but they are particularly helpful for red blood cell generation. They also are proven to help maintain your nervous system and to help your body use fat, protein, and carbohydrates, all of which are especially important during pregnancy.
Take Care with Certain Prenatal Vitamins
Many of these essential vitamins and minerals you will get through a healthy, balanced diet, so there’s no need to overload on the amount of vitamins you’re taking. High amounts of Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, or Vitamin E can be dangerous for pregnancies, so make sure that you are not taking more than the recommended amount for pregnant women.
Before adding any new medications, vitamins, or supplements during your pregnancy, speak with your doctor to ensure they are safe for you and your baby and to find which dosage is right for you. Schedule an appointment today to chat about fertility, pregnancy, and prenatal vitamins with a doctor that you trust.
