Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated combinations of vitamins and minerals; they are often recommended by health care providers because while pregnant, a woman needs an increased amount of certain nutrients. According to the Cleveland Clinic website, three especially important nutrients are iron, calcium and iron. Each of these nutrients are critical to the health of both the mother-to-be and her unborn baby.
Iron
As an expectant mother, you need extra iron during your pregnancy because iron in red blood cells helps to carry oxygen to the developing baby. Without extra iron, you can develop a condition known as anemia. Furthermore, your baby's developing red blood cells need iron; this iron must come directly from you. Some dietary sources of iron include red meat, certain peas or beans, and even breakfast cereals that have been fortified with iron. A good way to supplement these dietary sources of iron is to take a prenatal vitamin that includes iron. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologist, ACOG, recommends a daily intake of at least 27 milligrams of iron. This amount will help prevent the development of anemia and will help your unborn baby's red blood cells develop normally.
Calcium
Calcium is another important nutrient for you to include in your diet. As a mother-to-be, calcium helps to keep your bones strong and healthy -- an important consideration as the pregnancy progresses and you carry more weight. For the unborn baby, calcium helps to develop strong bones and teeth. The ACOG website suggests that pregnant women consume at least 1000 milligrams of calcium daily. Foods that prove especially rich in calcium include dairy products, such as milk, cottage cheese and yogurt. According to the non-profit organization March of Dimes, which focuses on prevention of birth defects and prematurity, other sources include tofu, almonds or even calcium-fortified orange juice. Another way to include calcium includes taking over-the-counter calcium supplements, available as a pill or a liquid. Prenatal vitamins also contain calcium, though they may not contain the entire daily recommended amount. You should remember to look at the product information of the vitamin you take and if it is not enough, you should talk with your physician about an additional supplement.
Folate
In its website on nutrition during pregnancy, ACOG reminds its readers that all women should aim for at least 400 micrograms of folate in the months before pregnancy as well as the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy. This is the "critical window" during which a neural tube defect -- a birth defect in the spine or the brain -- is most likely to develop. A variety of foods include significant amounts of folate, and these include dark green, leafy vegetables, such as spinach; many breakfast cereals, which have been fortified with folate and certain beans and peas. However, because folate plays such an important role in the development of a healthy baby, many physicians recommend that women take prenatal vitamins that include 600 micrograms of this B vitamin. Some women may need even higher doses of this vitamin; these women should take an additional supplement of 4 milligrams of folate daily, according to ACOG.
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