Why Prenatal Vitamins Are Necessary During Pregnancy

From the time that we have been born, we have always heard about the importance of a healthy diet. And why not? It is the only way that you can get vitamins and minerals that are essential for your wellbeing. The need to have a healthy diet becomes even more important when you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. It is because of this that it’s a good idea to take some of the best prenatal vitamins to bridge any gap in your nutrition intake.

In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about prenatal vitamins and what makes them a must-have for you and your baby.

What are Prenatal Vitamins?

Whenever you’re pregnant, your doctor or OB/GYN will usually prescribe you prenatal vitamins as a part of your daily routine. This is because the supplements can help to support fetal development by giving your body and in turn your baby, the required nutrients.

These supplements are different from the other vitamins as well. You see, these vitamins usually contain more folic acid and iron in comparison to the other adult multivitamins.

Why Do You Need Prenatal Vitamins?

There are many reasons why you should take prenatal vitamins, namely a reduction in birth defects, proper development and growth of your baby, and an increased supply of vitamins and minerals to your body making up for any deficiency.

Neural tube defects are serious abnormalities of the spinal cord and brain. These defects can be prevented to a remarkable extent by folic acid. Whereas, iron can help to prevent anemia, a disease that refers to a condition in which the blood has a low number of healthy red blood cells or RBCs. This mineral can also help to aid the growth and development of the baby efficiently.

A piece of research found out that using the best prenatal vitamins can also decrease the risk of having a baby who is small for their gestational age. A definite win-win situation for you!

The Right Time for You to Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins

It is usually recommended for women to start taking prenatal vitamins when they are planning to become pregnant. But yes, there may be chances when you may not even be aware that you are pregnant.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises women of childbearing age to consume folic acid daily to prevent spina bifida and anencephaly. These health conditions are serious diseases that can negatively impact the developing brain and spinal cord of your baby. There might even be cases where your doctor or midwife may suggest that you continue taking prenatal vitamins even after you have given birth. In these cases, you might have to continue taking these vitamins until you stop breastfeeding.

Hence, in order to be on the safe side, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss pregnancy planning and any other concerns you might have. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry.

The Side-Effects of Using Prenatal Vitamins

Before prescribing your prenatal vitamins, your doctor usually will educate you about the possible side-effects. Consuming prenatal vitamins, generally, does not lead to any side-effects or rather severe side-effects. But then again, there are always exceptions.

There might be cases when the iron in prenatal vitamins may cause constipation or you might get diarrhea, dark stools, or stomach cramps or upsets. However, feeling nauseated might be one of the most common side-effects in the rare cases it does happen.

If you feel that consuming prenatal vitamins is resulting in side-effects, talk to your midwife or doctor as soon as you can.

Choosing The Best Prenatal Vitamins for Yourself

Available as an over-the-counter purchase, prenatal vitamins should contain a few important ingredients. In addition to folic acid and iron, try to opt for prenatal vitamins that contain vitamin D, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E. Even iodine, zinc, and copper can be useful additions.

To conclude, prenatal vitamins are good for you and your baby both. They can make you stay healthy without any compromise on the wellbeing of your baby.

Having said this, we would also like to emphasize the fact that prenatal vitamins are complementary to a healthy diet and should not be treated as a substitute. No matter how nutritious these might be, it will never meet your vitamin and mineral needs completely.

Resources— Medicine NetMayo Clinic

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