Prenatal vitamins are essential for pregnant and breastfeeding women, containing important supplements such as folic acid, iron, and calcium to prevent birth defects. However, they may not always contain adequate amounts and a healthy diet is still important. Omega-3 fatty acid DHA is also important for fetal development. Nausea may occur, and different forms of prenatal vitamins can be used to alleviate symptoms.
Prenatal vitamins are supplemental vitamins that are designed to be taken specifically during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. They are multivitamins that contain many supplements that are intended not only to improve the health of the fetus and mother, but also to prevent many common birth defects. Prenatal vitamins can be given in many different forms, including capsules, liquid, and chewable forms.
Pregnant women take prenatal vitamins primarily to replace deficient supplements in the mother’s diet. Mainly among these nutrients are folic acid, iron and calcium. Others that are also important are thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamins A, B-12, C, D, and E. By the definition of a supplement, they are primarily intended to boost levels of nutrients that might be lacking, and prenatal vitamins to be used in conjunction with a healthy diet, which is much more important in itself for a healthy pregnancy.
The folic acid in prenatal vitamins is one of the most important nutrients, and is important for the prevention of fetal neural tube disorders, such as spina bifida. As the fetus grows inside the mother, it can deplete the mother’s extra calcium, causing her to lose bone density, which is why calcium itself is an important supplement. Iron is among the most important supplements found in prenatal vitamins due to its importance in helping to carry oxygen through the bloodstream in both mother and fetus.
Despite their importance during pregnancy, prenatal vitamins do not always contain adequate amounts to complement a healthy diet. This may be particularly true of calcium, which is needed in larger amounts than can be found in a prenatal vitamin alone. More nutrients that prenatal vitamins may lack are essential fatty acids. Specifically, there is an omega-3 fatty acid called DHA that is important in the development of the fetal brain, nerves, and eye tissues. DHA can be found in fish oils, and an OB will often recommend additional supplementation of this important nutrient.
Sometimes, due to their high levels of nutrients, prenatal vitamins have been known to cause nausea in pregnant women. Complicating this is the fact that many women already experience high levels of nausea during pregnancy, and this is commonly known as morning sickness. In these cases, the woman’s doctor will usually have the patient switch to a different form of prenatal vitamin, such as chewables or capsules, to alleviate these symptoms.
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