Do Prenatal Vitamins Really Work?
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Due to our increased knowledge with regard to health, many women have become informed with regard to the importance of prenatal vitamins and their role in preventing birth defects. It is important to know that both mother and child do have increased nutritional needs during pregnancy.Although many women are prescribed prenatal vitamins by their doctors during their pregnancy, it is becoming more common in some areas that even women who are planning to conceive begin taking prenatal vitamins. Thus many women begin protecting their body’s early.
The majority of prenatal vitamins on the market are designed to compensate for nutritional shortcomings. They generally contain supplements like folic acid, iron, zinc, calcium etc. These nutrients go a long way in preventing defects such as the risk of serious defects of the brain and spinal cord. Yet these supplements need to be combined with a good overall diet.
IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS FOR MOTHER AND CHILD:
DHA
DHA is a fatty acid and is necessary for a baby’s brain development. It is needed by the child from the very earliest stages of pregnancy throughout the time of breastfeeding. DHA belongs to the omega -3 family of fatty acids and is essential, especially in pregnancy.
IRON
The mineral iron is drawn upon heavily by the baby in the third trimester of pregnancy; it draws its supply from the stored supply of the mother. Iron is very important, and will be found in most prenatal vitamins.
FOLIC ACID
Folic acid, as many women already know, is absolutely crucial for a healthy pregnancy. Folic acid reduces the risk of birth defects that can occur in babies. Interestingly it is found in several of the foods that we eat. It is found in dark leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, whole grain, etc.
Folic acid has been found to be necessary to the neural tube development of the baby. This takes place during the first trimester of a woman’s pregnancy. Some women even begin taking folic acid or folate 30 days or more before attempting pregnancy.
CALCIUM
Calcium is certainly important in the development of a new baby. Calcium, 400 mg/day, and magnesium, 300 mg/day, help protect the mother’s bones and can help prevent pre-eclampsia. Chromium, 200 mg/day, helps control the mother’s blood sugar, and look for the following B vitamins: B12, 120 mg/day; B6, 20 mg/day, and B5, also known as pantothenic acid, 20 mg/day. CALCIUM - A supplement that contains 2-300 mg calcium is just a start toward reaching the recommended 1200 mg daily. However, anything beyond 250 mg of calcium (or 25 mg of magnesium) should not be taken at the same time as supplemental iron since both calcium and magnesium interfere with the absorption of the iron.
Finally, not all prenatal vitamins are created equal… While most prenatal vitamins try to pack in as much as they can into the vitamin, they must be careful not to promote an excess of potentially toxic fat soluble vitamins. Vitamin A should be provided as water-soluble beta carotene at a level that won’t cause vitamin A toxicity. Vitamin E should be included from an all-natural source and provided in a safe amount. Deficiencies in vitamin E in pregnancy have been linked to birth defects so having “just enough” is important. Vitamin K, another fat-soluble vitamin, which also needs to be provided in amounts that avoid toxicity.
