Prenatal Vitamins are those organic substances that are required for the normal growth and development of the fetus during pregnancy. Expectant women are required to take these nutrients on a daily basis in their diet. They are essential for the mother’s health as well as that of the baby. During pregnancy, the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA) of certain vitamins increases significantly. These nutrients consist of folic acid, vitamin K, Vitamin E and certain minerals such as iron and calcium.
In order to increase the chances of giving birth to a healthy baby, you need to eat right. It is important for you to take a well balanced diet consisting of adequate amounts of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals. In order to get a daily supply of essential
prenatal vitamins you must eat a variety of foods. If you select synthetic vitamins, you must monitor the intake from time to time in order to avoid taking an overdose.
Important prenatal Vitamins:
Folic acid: This is one of the most important of vitamins required during pregnancy. It significantly reduces the risk of birth defects in the fetus. Folic acid deficiency in expectant women can lead to the development of the defect of the brain and spinal cord known as the ‘neural tube’. This is characterized by the baby being born with a spine that is not closed. The exposed nerves show signs of damage incurring varying degrees of paralysis, mental retardation and incontinence in the baby.
Neural defects are most likely to develop in the first twenty-eight days of pregnancy; therefore, it is essential for women planning a pregnancy to start taking at least 400 mg of folic acid each day. Women who have had children with neural defects previously must consult a certified physician before taking any vitamin supplementation to decide upon the adequate dosage. Food sources of Folic Acid include green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits such as oranges, pineapples, raspberries, strawberries, beans, nuts etc.
Multivitamins: These can be taken as supplements during pregnancy. These vary in the content of the vitamins and minerals they are made up of. For instance, certain multivitamins may be extremely high in the iron content that have been developed for women with anemia, whereas others might be rich in folic acid or vitamin K. A number of vitamins for pregnant women are available only on the prescription of a medical practitioner. Thus, you must be very careful while selecting the nutrient supplements during pregnancy.
It is not advisable for women to take too many synthetic vitamins during expectancy. Before taking any nutrient, you must consult a registered medical practitioner in order to determine if you require it or not and in what doses. You can get most of the essential vitamins by consuming healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, lentils, legumes, fish, whole grains, cereals, nuts, fresh fruit juice, oats and loads of water to keep you hydrated.
Vitamin Overdose: An overdose of vitamins in pregnancy can be extremely fatal for the development of the baby and may result in toxicity. Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, dizziness, nausea, headaches, outbreak of rashes on the skin etc. It is best to take advice from a doctor or mid-wife before taking any vitamins.
Vitamins help in the process of growth and development of the body. They help optimize the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the body. During pregnancy it is recommended that you consult a registered doctor or dietitian to help chalk out a pregnancy diet plan based on the specific needs of your body. During pregnancy, the baby’s health is in your hands. If you take a healthy diet you will give birth to a healthy baby, whereas nutritional deficiencies might result in various birth defects.
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