Pregnancy vitamins, including prenatal vitamins, folic acid, and DHA omega-3 supplements, can help support the health of both mother and baby during pregnancy. These vitamins should be taken in addition to a healthy diet, and women should consult with their doctor before taking any supplements.
There are a few different types of pregnancy vitamins that, when taken as part of a nutritional diet, can help keep a woman and her growing baby healthy. Prenatal vitamins, often prescribed by doctors for pregnant women, help fill in the gaps in a woman’s diet, especially if she experiences morning sickness. Folic acid, recommended for all women of childbearing age, can greatly reduce the risk of a child developing an open neural tube defect. Research has also found that taking a DHA omega-3 supplement with other pregnancy vitamins may help an unborn baby’s brain development.
While prenatal vitamins do not replace the need for healthy foods, they are the most commonly prescribed vitamins for pregnancy. They typically contain at least 300 mg of calcium, 17 mg of iron, and a host of other vitamins and minerals to help support the health of mother and baby. Calcium helps prevent bone loss in the mother because her body uses most of its normal intake of calcium to help the baby’s bones grow. Iron helps oxygen move through the blood; Since blood is what carries many nutrients to the baby, iron is necessary for a healthy pregnancy.
Some prenatal vitamins for pregnancy include folic acid. Taking folic acid for at least a month before conception and throughout pregnancy can reduce the risk of a child having an open neural tube defect. Whether the neural tubes close is determined in the first 30 days after conception; consuming folic acid during pregnancy before this point allows this essential nutrient to build up in a woman’s body. Women of childbearing age, and especially pregnant women, are often advised to take 400 to 800 mg of folic acid every day.
Omega-3 fatty acids are known to aid in brain development. The most common food source of this fat, which contains DHA, is found in fish, which is often high in mercury. Due to the dangers of mercury during pregnancy, women are often advised to limit their intake of certain fish. However, this limit means that most pregnant women do not get the optimal amount of omega-3 and DHA in their diet.
Taking pregnancy vitamins containing these fatty acids has been found to increase fetal brain development and reduce behavior problems as the child grows older. This supplement is often derived from fish oil that has had the mercury removed. Research has found that most pregnant women should take 250 mg daily during pregnancy.
When these vitamins are taken regularly in addition to a nutritional diet, they can help mother and baby stay as healthy as possible. Pregnancy vitamins should always be purchased from reputable companies. However, before taking any supplement during pregnancy, women should discuss their options with their doctor.
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