As a mother-to-be, you want to give your baby the very best of everything right from the moment you find out you're pregnant. Healthy eating and prenatal vitamins are important for your growing child. However, even if you eat a wide variety of foods; you are likely still missing some essential nutrients. Your current diet may have plenty of nutrients and minerals to support you during your pregnancy. Now that your body is changing so that it is able to support the needs of another human being, it may need a little help in getting additional resources. That is where a prenatal vitamin comes in. A prenatal vitamin is designed to fill in those gaps and ensure you are getting all of the daily values needed for your health and your baby's.
When should I start taking prenatal vitamins. During pregnancy, folic acid and iron are extremely important. Prenatal vitamins give you these essential supplements in perfect daily doses. Folic acid helps to reduce many birth defects related to neural tubes such as spina bifida and anencephaly. It can also reduce your risk of experiencing preeclampsia. Iron is in higher demand while you are pregnant. If you do not increase your dose properly, you may end up anemic. An anemic mother can end up going into labor prematurely resulting in low birth weight and a higher risk for infant mortality.
Why prenatal vitamins? Prenatal vitamins are an easy and important way to make sure you are getting enough nutrients to your changing body and to your baby's developing body. Women on regular diets need the supplementation, but those on special diets need it even more. Women who consume vegan or vegetarian diets need supplementation for nutrients that they would get through animal fats and proteins. One example of this is vitamin b12. This particular vitamin helps keep blood cells and nerve cells healthy. A deficiency during pregnancy can cause neural tube defects, preeclampsia, and miscarriage early in your pregnancy, and slowed fetal growth.
Prenatal multivitamins. Prenatal vitamins come in a variety of brands and forms. The pill form is usually the easiest form for most women to take. However, there are also gummy vitamins and liquid forms for those who have a hard time swallowing pills. If you are unsure of which prenatal vitamin to use, your Obstetrician, or midwife can usually give you a few samples to try out. When shopping around for a suitable vitamin, be sure to read the label to make sure you will be getting the recommended dosages of the different ingredients. If you have special health concerns or circumstances such as a vegan diet, lactose intolerance, you are carrying multiples, have a blood disorder, chronic disease, or have had gastric bypass surgery be sure to tell your doctor so they can point you to an appropriate vitamin.
Popular prenatal vitamins. Rainbow Light prenatal vitamins are a popular choice because they are much smaller and easier to swallow than most prenatal pills. They also included probiotics and digestive enzymes to keep your gut healthy. The only downside to this option is that you will need additional calcium supplementation. Nature Made prenatal vitamins are an affordable option that does not skimp on ingredients. It has a full daily dose of important elements like folic acid, iron, and vitamin D. It also has a full days dose of DHA all in an easy to swallow gel cap. Smarty Pants prenatal vitamins offer a gummy alternative to traditional pills. They taste better and can be easier to hold down if your morning sickness is rough. It still gives you important nutrients but you will have to check if iron or calcium supplementation is needed.
Finding prenatal vitamins online. The internet can be a terrific place to search for prenatal vitamins. However, with so many choices it can be overwhelming. A good way to narrow down your options is to create a list of recommendations from your doctor and must-have ingredients and dose levels. An important aspect to keep in mind is to purchase from a reputable seller so you know you are really getting what you are purchasing. If the price is a barrier, you can find inexpensive options that still meet your needs from trusted online drug stores and price compare very easily. Plus, shopping online can be done in bed in your pajamas- perfect for a resting mom-to-be.