| Pre-natal vitamins are important to the health of a | | | | your diet is mostly important for the mother's health. |
| growing baby. They are also important to pregnant | | | | Insufficient iron might lead to fatigue and anemia. On |
| mothers because their bodies are going through so | | | | the other hand, too much iron can hurt both the |
| many changes.Our diets today are often deficient in | | | | mother and the baby. Be very careful with iron |
| key nutrients found in pre-natal vitamins that help a | | | | supplements!The baby will generally get all of the iron |
| baby's development in the womb. One deficiency | | | | he needs, even if that means leaving the mom |
| that has been found is the lack of enough folic acid, | | | | anemic. By the end of the pregnancy a mother will |
| one of the B vitamins.Rectifying vitamin deficiency | | | | have twice as much blood in her body as she did |
| can be done by modifying your diet and by taking | | | | before. Therefore pregnant women may need more |
| pre-natal vitamin supplements. It is easiest for your | | | | iron as non-pregnant women. Another important fact |
| body to absorb nutrients from foods, but since it can | | | | is that coffee and tea can decrease iron |
| be difficult to take in enough of those key vitamins | | | | absorption.The best and safest way to get the right |
| and minerals during pregnancy, most doctors | | | | amount of iron is to take the balance multi-vitamin |
| recommend that you also take pre-natal | | | | and mineral pre-natal supplements that your doctor |
| supplements.The most important pre-natal vitamin is | | | | recommends. You might save money if you ask your |
| folic acid, which is the synthetic form of the naturally | | | | doctor which over the counter pre-natal vitamins |
| occurring folate. If folic acid is taken in the first four | | | | may contain the same ingredients as prescription |
| weeks of pregnancy, it can reduce the risk of the | | | | versions.Pre-natal vitamin supplements are even more |
| baby having an incomplete spinal column, or neural | | | | important for women who have poor nutrition, |
| tube defect by up to 70%.Because folic acid is most | | | | women who are carrying twins, and women who |
| useful very early in the pregnancy, most doctors | | | | have a closely spaced pregnancy.For women that are |
| recommend that women trying to conceive begin | | | | healthy and eat a balanced diet, pre-natal |
| supplementing their diet with 400 micrograms (mcg) | | | | supplements are still important to insure against the |
| of folic acid per day. In fact the U.S. Public Health | | | | possibility that the women are not getting enough of |
| Service recommends that all women of childbearing | | | | any given nutrient. Many women who were careful |
| age take this supplement as a preventative measure, | | | | to eat right were still found to be low in folic acid for |
| in the case of an unplanned pregnancy. Many | | | | example.Vitamin supplements, in particular those with |
| once-daily multi-vitamin supplements include this in | | | | iron, can be tough to swallow for the expecting |
| their product.While folic acid is most important in the | | | | mother because of the infamous 'morning sickness,' |
| first trimester, most doctors recommend it | | | | that is far from relegated to the morning hours.Many |
| throughout the pregnancy. Spinach and chicken liver | | | | women have found that beginning to take pre-natal |
| are great natural sources of folate. Folate is often | | | | vitamins a month or more before conception can |
| added to breakfast cereals and breads; this addition | | | | diminish morning sickness and therefore make taking |
| will be written on the nutrition label.Calcium is another | | | | the pre-natal vitamins during pregnancy an easier pill |
| critical supplement for your baby for the same | | | | to swallow. Taking prenatal vitamins when you are |
| reasons that it is important for you; calcium helps the | | | | not pregnant does not cause any problems. These |
| baby develop strong bones and teeth. One of the | | | | vitamins are not that different than regular daily |
| best sources of calcium is cheddar cheese (real | | | | multi-vitamins, except that they do not contain any |
| cheese, not the plastic-like "cheese product" made | | | | herbs or herbal supplements that could cause |
| from hydrogenated oil with orange | | | | problems. Be very careful to avoid most herbal |
| color added). Calcium is also found in yogurt, milk, | | | | supplements when pregnant. Talk to your |
| kale, etc.In addition to dairy products, calcium citrate | | | | doctor.Note: These statements have not been |
| is often added to cereals and other non-dairy | | | | evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. |
| products like orange juice.When taking calcium | | | | Supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, |
| supplements it may be safest to take calcium citrate | | | | cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. All information |
| which is made from citrus fruit.Small amounts of | | | | here is intended for general knowledge only and is |
| vitamin D are important for calcium absorption. The | | | | not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for |
| good news is that you can absorb this vitamin | | | | specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt |
| through exposure to the sun. Most prenatal | | | | medical care for any specific health issues and always |
| supplements provide this vitamin.Iron is important for | | | | consult your doctor before starting any new |
| the baby's development of red blood cells, which | | | | supplement, diet or fitness regimen. |
| deliver oxygen to the baby. Supplementing iron into | | | | |