Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins

prenatal devlopment

For every woman pregnancy is one of the most exciting time for them and at this time a woman should take care of her and her growing baby. Prenatal vitamins are made for people who are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant or women who are breastfeeding, need more of certain vitamins and minerals than other people, especially folic acid

Why a woman need to take a prenatal vitamin.

Even if a women eating a healthy diet, there is a probability she may be missing important nutrients. A prenatal vitamin will fill in those gaps. It will also help support your baby’s growth and development. Taking a daily pill can even help prevent neural tube defects anemia and several other diseases. But before taking any pills you must consult a doctor so that pills will not cause any complication and toxication.

Composition of prenatal vitamins.

• folic acid
• iron
• calcium
• vitamins D, C, A, and E
• zinc
• copper

Do You Need Prenatal Vitamins?

The need multivitamin won’t cut it when you’re pregnant. Prenatal vitamins are specially designed multivitamins that deliver the extra amounts of nutrients needed during various stages of your baby’s development. For example, they contain folic acid, which is important for baby’s brain development in the earliest stages. And they have vitamin D and calcium to build strong bones and teeth during the third trimester of pregnancy.

And, prenatal vitamins help make sure you have enough nutrients such as iron and calcium, to not only provide to your baby but so your own body doesn’t become depleted.

What is the right time to take prenatal vitamins?

Normally, you should start taking prenatal vitamins at least 30 days before conception and throughout your entire pregnancy from 4 weeks pregnant to whenever labor and birth starts. In fact, it’s often best to take a prenatal vitamin every day if there’s a chance you could get pregnant at all, even if you’re not planning for it. That’s because crucial neurological development takes place during the first month of pregnancy when folic acid would offer the most protective benefits. (If you are trying to conceive and think you might be pregnant, check out our guide to the best pregnancy tests.) Prenatal vitamins are readily available over the counter and a prescription is generally unnecessary but still, we will recommend you consult a doctor.

Every vitamin can differ in the types and amounts of nutrients it contains because specific vitamin ingredients aren’t regulated by the FDA. If the vitamin you choose doesn’t contain the full recommended daily amount of a nutrient, be sure to eat foods that are high in that vitamin or mineral.

When shopping for prenatal vitamins look for these four primary nutrients that are especially important during pregnancy (amounts are per day and recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists):

• Folic acid: 600 mcg
• Iron: 27 mg
• Calcium: 1,000 mg (note: most prenatal vitamins don’t contain this much calcium, so you if don’t get enough from your diet, talk to your doctor about taking a separate calcium supplement)
• Vitamin D: 600 IU

The following vitamins are also essential during pregnancy, and you may not get enough of them through diet alone. Having these in your prenatals are helpful too:

• Vitamin A: 770 mcg (Note: The safest form of Vitamin A is beta-carotene or other carotenoids.)
• Vitamin C: 85 mg
• Vitamin B6: 1.9 mg
• Vitamin B12: 2.6 mcg

Benefits of taking prenatal vitamins.

Taking specific prenatal vitamins may reduce the risk of complications, for both the mother and the developing fetus as well as help a mother go full term.

Folic acid

Folic acid, also known as folate, is well recognized for its value in the prevention of certain birth defects. It may have another important health benefit. A large study showed that women who consumed more folic acid had a significantly reduced risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension).

Folic acid is one of the B vitamins found in foods such as leafy green vegetables, fruits, dried beans, and peas. A synthetic form of folic acid is used in dietary supplements and fortified foods. Folic acid acts by helping the body produce and maintain new cells. In particular, red blood cell formation is dependent upon adequate levels of this vitamin. Folic acid deficiency is a known cause of anemia in both adults and children. Folate may also help cells resist changes in their DNA associated with the development of cancer.

Iron

Iron is important in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body.

A lack of iron can lead to iron deficiency anemia.

Good sources of iron include:

• nuts
• dried fruit 
• brown rice
• liver (but avoid this during pregnancy)
• meat
• beans
• soy bean flour
• most dark-green leafy vegetables

How much iron do I need?

The amount of iron you need is:

• 8.7mg a day for men over 18
• 14.8mg a day for women aged 19 to 50
• 8.7mg a day for women over 50

Calcium

Your developing baby needs calcium to build strong bones and teeth; to grow a healthy heart, nerves, and muscles; and to develop a normal heart rhythm and blood-clotting abilities. If you don't get enough calcium in your diet when you're pregnant, your baby will draw it from your bones, which may impair your own health later on. Women’s calcium requirements do not increase during pregnancy. Women over 18 years of age need 1,000 mg a day before, during, and after pregnancy. Women 18 years and under need 1,300 mg. 

During pregnancy, women’s bodies absorb calcium more efficiently from their diet. However, most Australian women don't get nearly enough of this important mineral. 

Vitamin D, C, A, E

Vitamin D modulates contraction, inflammation and remodeling tissue. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to multiple diseases and several data have demonstrated a strong relationship between serum vitamin D levels and tissue function. Therapy targeting vitamin D3 signaling may provide new approaches for infectious and inflammatory skin diseases by affecting both innate and adaptive immune functions. Mast cells are activated by oxidized lipoproteins, resulting in increased expression of inflammatory cytokines and suggesting that the reduction of oxidation of low-density lipoprotein by vitamin E may also reduce mast cell activation. Vitamin C is also an anti-oxidant well-known as an anti-scurvy agent in humans. Vitamin C inhibits peroxidation of membrane phospholipids and acts as a scavenger of free radicals and is also required for the synthesis of several hormones and neurotransmitters. In humans, vitamin C reduces the duration of common cold symptoms, even if its effect is not clear. Supplementation of vitamin C improves the function of the human immune system, such as antimicrobial and natural killer cell activities, lymphocyte proliferation, chemotaxis, and delayed-type hypersensitivity. Vitamin C depletion has been correlated with histaminemia which has been shown to damage endothelial-dependent vasodilation. However, the impact of these vitamins on allergy and inflammation is still not well understood.