Prenatal vitamins support fetal and placenta development, and the overall health for mommy. Whether your pregnancy was planned or you unexpectedly journeyed into motherhood, the first recommendation is to become aware of your nutrition.
What are Prenatal Vitamins?
A prenatal vitamin is a supplement taken 2-3x a daily to ensure the absorption of important nutrients and minerals. These nutrients and minerals are formulated to aid in the development of your fetus, placenta and health of motherly bodily changes.
What Does My Prenatal Need to Have?
When selecting your magic supplement keep in mind that everyone’s body is different and may require variation. We recommend you meet with your midwife (or call Fadwah Halaby) for guidance on which is best for you, as an individual.
The two most common elements that you’ll notice in your prenatal supplement are folic acid and iron.
Folic acid is a form of water soluble B vitamins. Folic acid prevents neural tube defects, serious abnormalities of the fetal brain and spinal cord. Three months prior to becoming pregnant you should consider supplementing folic acid into your diet.
The second common element is iron. Iron supports the placenta and fetus development, and it helps the blood to supply oxygen to the fetus. Iron also prevents anemia, a condition where a person has low red blood cell counts in their blood.
There are other important vitamins and minerals that you’ll find in most prenatal vitamins, regardless of brand. You should look for a prenatal vitamin with calcium and vitamin D, as both of them aid in the development of the baby’s teeth and bones.
Look for prenatal vitamins with vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, B12, vitamin E, zinc, and iodine. Prenatal vitamins typically will have the daily recommended value of these vitamins in them, because they are all necessary for a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.
Do I Need To Take Prenatal Vitamins?
We believe it is important to begin balancing your diet, water intake and supplementing vitamins as early as pre-conception.
