Women should establish healthy and nutritious eating habits before they conceive. This will prevent the fetus from developing certain health conditions that may be caused by deficiencies in the mother's body, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, if you are eating a well-balanced diet with a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and unprocessed foods, you're likely getting sufficient amounts of minerals and vitamins. You can also consult with your doctor about prenatal vitamins to ensure you are getting enough the essential nutrients.
Significance of Vitamin Supplementation
Based on a study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in 2005, multivitamin supplementation has been documented to reduce the risk of heart defects in infants by 43 percent if started very early in pregnancy. Most of these supplements are similar to other multivitamins, however they are tailored to the needs of women hoping to conceive. They contain higher amounts of folic acid, iron and calcium which are essential for a healthy pregnancy, and have lower concentrations of vitamin A, which in high amounts can be harmful to the fetus. However, according to the American Pregnancy Association brands of supplements vary, therefore you should choose wisely under the direction of your health care provider.
Folic Acid
Folic acid is necessary for the proper development of the baby's neural tube which is completed by 28 days of gestation. Regarding that 50 percent of all U.S. pregnancies are unplanned the neural tube may close before most women realize they are pregnant, increasing the potential for the fetus to develop neural tube defects which can cause brain damage. In a study of the Medical Research Council in women who had previously delivered a child with NTDs, the daily supplementation of folic acid caused the incidence of NTD's drop by 72 percent in the next pregnancy. Therefore the U.S Public Health Service recommends that all women of childbearing age should be supplemented with 400 mcg of folic acid per day before conception.
Calcium
Taking enough calcium into your body will help the baby to develop strong bones and prevent your own calcium stores from being depleted during pregnancy, which could lead to bone disease like osteoporosis in later years. However, most prenatal vitamin supplements are designed to provide you with only an extra 200 to 300 mcg of calcium as you are expected to receive enough calcium through your food.
Iron
Women rarely become pregnant with sufficient iron stores to cover the physiological needs of pregnancy. According to MayoClinic.com if you have low iron stores or an iron deficiency anemia, your doctor will recommend that you supplement with iron in order to enter pregnancy with sufficient amounts in your body. If your iron levels are normal it is unlikely to need extra amounts in addition to your dietary intake. Your doctor will help you identify your needs and advise you on vitamin supplements.
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