Pregnant women are flooded with advice on how they should look after their health and body. Apart from maintaining a healthy diet, expecting mothers should ensure that they get enough of vitamins and minerals that are essential for the growth of the child. Even if you eat a healthy diet, you might fall short on some key nutrients which only prenatal vitamins can provide. Any gap between the diet you consume and the nutrients you require will be fulfilled with the vitamins.
Importance of prenatal vitamin supplements
In order to ensure healthy growth of your child, expecting mothers need to look after their health. Considering their health to be a priority, pregnant women are recommended consumption of supplements that will benefit the child as well. Considering the duration of pregnancy, women need to ensure that in addition to a healthy diet, they also take supplements which are recommended by the doctors. Women planning to conceive should start consuming the vitamins in order to maintain their health.
Highly recommended by a number of doctors across the country, prenatal vitamins are tested for quality and have the right mix of ingredients that benefit the health of the child. It is not possible to gain all the essential nutrients through a regular diet, even if you consume meat on a daily basis, you will not be able to gain all the required nutrients for your body. Prenatal vitamins have a number of proven benefits for the child and expecting mothers.
Ingredients of prenatal vitamin supplement
Prenatal vitamins are different from other vitamins in various ways. It contains folic acids which helps prevent the neural tube defects that can cause serious abnormalities in the brain and spinal cord. Further, it contains iron that supports the growth of the baby and prevents anemia which is a condition in which the blood has low number of red blood cells. Further, consumption of the vitamins reduce the risk of having a baby who is small for his or her age. There is growing awareness about the consumption of the vitamins in order to ensure healthy growth of the child.
Which is the best brand of prenatal vitamin?
The vitamins are available across the country in any pharmacy but your doctor might recommend a specific brand based on your health and body. You should look for prenatal vitamins that contain folic acid, calcium, Vitamin D and iron. Additionally, it is ideal to consume vitamins which contain vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc, vitamin E, copper and iodine.
You should keep in mind that the vitamins are supplements and not a substitute for a healthy diet. These vitamins will not necessarily meet all the requirements in your body and should be considered as complimentary to a healthy diet. Depending on your health and circumstances, your doctor could recommend you to take higher doses of certain nutrients. Since it is hard to get all the nutrients for you and your child through food, it is essential to consume prenatal vitamins on a regular basis. Women who are vegans, are having twins, have an eating disorder, smoke, have blood disorders, are lactose intolerant or have chronic diseases should consume prenatal vitamins.
What should be the frequency of consumption?
You should start taking the vitamins as soon as you realize you are pregnant. Folic acid is very important at the beginning of the pregnancy hence if you start consuming them before you conceive, it will ensure the best results. You should take the vitamins at least three months before you conceive so as to lessen morning sickness once you are pregnant. If you breastfeed your baby, the doctor might recommend you to continue taking the vitamins even after the child is born.
Choose the right prenatal vitamin for your body
There is no particular brand or product which is the most suitable for your body. This means it is totally up to you to decide what is safe and appropriate for you. At your first checkup, the doctor could prescribe a daily vitamin or recommend a brand based on your health condition. You should ensure that a good supplement provides the essential nutrients like iron and folic acid and does not provide the nutrients which could be harmful to your baby if taken in excess. Vitamin A is harmful to the baby and is derived from animal products. It can cause birth defects when taken in high doses. Unlike Vitamin A, beta carotene is a nutrient which is found in vegetable and fruits and the body converts this type into vitamin A, it is safe even when consumed in high doses. Make sure you do not consume the vitamins in excess and do not take other vitamin supplements while you are on a prenatal supplement.
To provide you and your baby with the best chance maximum help, Prenatals are essential. Some of the recommended prenatals are listed here.
- UpSpring Prenatal Gummy: If you do not like swallowing pills, this gummy and pill combination tastes better and has all the ingredients essential for your body.
- Pink Stork Liquid Prenatal Vitamin: This liquid prenatal does justice to its name. It is easy to take daily, is reasonably priced and has all the ingredients essential for healthy body. Ideal for those who do not like to consume pills or gummies.
- Smarty Pants Prenatal Complete: This prenatal taste really good and is easy to use. It has a great lineup of ingredients that include Folate, Omega 3 and Vitamin K in addition to other essential components.
- Thorne Basic Prenatal: This prenatal has all the essential ingredients for expectant mothers. It tastes good, has no side effects and is value for money.
- Zenwise Prenatal Multivitamin: This is not a bad choice when it comes to supplements. Although the pills are large in size, it has all the essential ingredients and no side effects.
Consult a doctor before choosing supplements for your daily consumption and choose the one which has the best benefits on your body.