Prenatal vitamins are recommended for pregnant women to provide the vitamins and minerals needed for the pregnant mother and fetus.
All human beings should follow a healthy diet to provide for the body’s nutritional needs. This issue becomes more important during pregnancy. You may not provide all your nutritional needs through food, so supplements can compensate for this deficiency.
For this reason, the obstetrician recommends taking some supplements at the beginning of pregnancy planning and during pregnancy to ensure that the body gets the nutrients it needs.
What to look for in prenatal vitamins
Prenatal vitamins ensure that the mother and fetus are not deficient in vitamins and minerals. These vitamins include:
- 400 micrograms of folic acid
- 200 to 300 milligrams of calcium
- 70 mg vitamin C
- 400 IU vitamin D
- 3 mg thiamine
- 15 mg zinc
- 2 mg riboflavin
- 20 mg niacin
- 6 mcg of vitamin B12
- 10 mg vitamin E
- 17 mg iron
- 150 micrograms iodine
Why are prenatal vitamins important?
They are special multivitamins that provide extra amounts of nutrients needed at different stages of your baby’s development. For example, they contain folic acid, which is important for developing the baby’s brain in the early stages.
If pregnancy is possible, folic acid is necessary because it can prevent birth defects that affect the baby’s brain and spinal cord. Neural tube defects occur early in pregnancy before many women know they are pregnant because half of the pregnancies are unplanned.
That’s why doctors recommend that every woman who can get pregnant take 400 micrograms of folic acid a day, starting before pregnancy and continuing until the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Calcium intake is essential for a pregnant woman and her fetus. Also, it is essential for the health of the baby’s bones. Adequate consumption helps the pregnant mother keeps her bone density because the baby uses calcium in the mother’s body to grow bones.
Other vitamins and minerals in supplements are also necessary for the mother and fetus, so their health is not endangered.
When to start taking prenatal vitamins
Start taking folic acid at least one month before you become pregnant. The first few weeks of pregnancy are a very important time for the health of the fetus. Taking folic acid and other prenatal vitamins can reduce the risk of some birth defects.
Continue to take vitamins throughout your pregnancy, but be sure to consult your ob-gyn about this. Some ob-gyn recommends that all women who can have children, even if they do not have a pregnancy plan, take prenatal vitamins.
Prenatal vitamins and side effects
Some vitamins can cause nausea in a pregnant woman. If this happens, consult your obstetrician to change the type of vitamin prescribed to cause fewer side effects. Iron supplementation in pregnant women can also cause constipation, so eat a high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water, and talk to your doctor about light exercise.
Benefits of prenatal vitamins
Before trying to conceive, ask your ob-gyn to introduce a supplement and start taking it.
Backup your diet
Almost no person can have a complete diet daily, exacerbated by nausea in early pregnancy. Therefore, prenatal vitamins can be helpful in situations where we may not be able to use enough of all food groups.
Cut back on nausea
Research shows that women who take at least ten micrograms of vitamin B6 before pregnancy and the first few weeks of pregnancy have less morning sickness.
Reduce the risk of autism
Adequate intake of folic acid and vitamin B12 before the egg is fertilized with sperm significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects.
Help prevent preterm birth
Taking supplements before pregnancy may help reduce the risk of preterm birth.
Reduce the risk of preeclampsia
Adequate intake of folic acid reduces the risk of preeclampsia. Hypertension in pregnancy is a dangerous condition that, if not controlled by an obstetrician, endangers both mother’s and fetus’s health.
It helps prevent iron-deficiency anemia
Women need about twice as much iron during pregnancy as they did before pregnancy. The body uses iron to make hemoglobin, which transports oxygen from the lungs to the body, which is essential for both mother and fetus.
Provides adequate calcium
Women aged 19 and older need 1000 mg of calcium before, during, and after pregnancy. This amount reaches 1300 mg per day in women 18 years and younger. Baby needs calcium for a healthy heart, strong teeth and bones, nerves, muscles, and blood clots.
Reduces the risk of the child developing rickets
Rickets is the softening and weakening of bones in children and is caused by a lack of vitamin D. This can lead to fractures and deformed bones. Vitamin D helps the body absorb phosphorus and calcium. If you do not get enough vitamin D during pregnancy, the baby will be deficient; Therefore, the risk of rickets and abnormal bone growth increases.
10 Best prenatal vitamins for a healthy pregnancy
Nutritional needs increase during pregnancy to support fetal development and ensure maternal health. But despite the many prenatal vitamins, it is important to make the right choice to ensure that pregnancy supplements provide maximum clarity to consumers.
- One A Day Women’s Prenatal 1 Multivitamin
This is one of the foremost common brands of prenatal vitamins on the market, approved by an independent laboratory. It is an excellent choice because it contains what it says. - Nature Made Prenatal + DHA 200 mg Multivitamin
The best thing about this vitamin is the high DHA dose, an essential fatty acid for fetal brain development. Many pregnancy supplements state contain DHA, but the amount is very low. At least 200 mg of DHA is needed per serving. - Mama Bird Prenatal Multivitamin
These vitamins contain “methylated folate,” which is important to take before pregnancy. - TheraNatal Complete Prenatal Vitamin & Mineral Supplement
These Vitamins contain choline and iodine, two vital minerals for fetal growth-regulating hormones and brain development, often absent in other prenatal vitamins. - Ritual Prenatal Vitamins
Because of its mint, this vitamin can be useful for morning sickness in pregnant women. - Thorne Basic Prenatal
This supplement contains methylated folate and B12. It also contains more folate than most vitamins, making it ideal for women who do not have enough green leafy vegetables in their diet. - Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal
This supplement contains a decent quantity of D and A. The ginger in it also reduces nausea. Probiotics in this supplement strengthen the immune system. - Vitapearl
This supplement is more comfortable to digest by the digestive system because of its small size. - OB Complete One (+ Petite)
Do not eat or drink dairy products within 30 minutes of taking this vitamin; calcium can interfere with iron absorption. - Prenate Mini
This vitamin contains significant amounts of DHA. DHA is a type of omega-3 fatty acid that is important for fetal brain development.
Prenatal vitamins side effects
Sometimes people feel uncomfortable taking prenatal vitamins, which is why they prefer to stop taking them. But you should not stop consuming them arbitrarily. Instead of stopping taking supplements, you should find solutions to reduce side effects and consult your obstetrician. These solutions include:
- Have trouble swallowing: If you have trouble swallowing, look for prenatal vitamins with a softer coating. Pills that do not contain calcium are smaller. If you choose them, make sure to get enough calcium from food. You can also use chewable or liquid supplements.
- Supplements cause nausea: If prenatal vitamins cause nausea, take them with the main meal or snack, and taking them before bed can also reduce the symptoms. Also, ask your doctor to change the brand. Taking more vitamin B6 supplements can help reduce nausea.
- Constipation, diarrhea, or gas: Constipation, diarrhea, or flatulence can be caused by excess iron in supplements. Drink plenty of fluids, eat foods rich in fiber, and increase your physical activity.
If you plan to take prenatal vitamins but are not pregnant or do not intend to become pregnant, it is best to evaluate your diet instead of taking vitamins. Most people on a balanced diet do not need to take a multivitamin.
A balanced diet includes low-fat dairy sources, lean protein, whole grains, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. But if you plan to get pregnant, you must take prenatal vitamins. Consult a gynecologist to choose pre-pregnancy vitamins that suit your condition.
Additional questions
- What is folic acid?
Folic acid, also known as folate, is an important B vitamin for pregnant women. Folic acid may help prevent major birth defects of the fetus’s brain and spine called neural tube defects (NTDs). - What is calcium, and what foods contain it?
Calcium is a mineral that makes the bones and teeth of the fetus. Women 18 years or younger need 1,300 milligrams of calcium daily. Women 19 years of age or older need 1,000 milligrams per day. Milk and other dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt, are the best sources of calcium. - What is choline, and what foods contain it?
Choline plays a role in fetal brain development. It may also help prevent some common birth defects. Experts recommend that pregnant women get 450 mg of choline per day. Choline can be found in chicken, beef, eggs, milk, soy products, and peanuts. - What to avoid with prenatal vitamins?
Take vitamins with vitamin C-rich juices to maximize iron absorption. Do not take it with coffee, tea or milk. - What fruit is rich in folic acid?
Many fruits contain folic acid, but citrus fruits rank highest.
References
https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/prenatal-vitamins
https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/vitamins-supplements-and-nutrition/
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/pregnancy/pre-pregnancy-health/what-are-prenatal-vitamins
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/best-prenatal-vitamins
https://www.whattoexpect.com/baby-products/pregnancy/best-prenatal-vitamins-buy-over-counter/
