Prenatal vitamins are an important part of the pregnancy nutrition plan. Even when pregnant women follow a healthy diet, they may miss out on some key vitamins and minerals their baby needs for development. Not all vitamins will do, however: pregnant women often need higher concentrations of nutrients than those found in a typical multivitamin.
Folic Acid, Calcium and Iron
The big three vitamins and minerals necessary for a healthy pregnancy include folic acid, calcium and iron. Folic acid can help prevent neural tube defects early in pregnancy. In addition, the American Pregnancy Association reports that folic acid, a B vitamin, also helps support the placenta throughout pregnancy. Calcium is important for the baby's bone and teeth formation, in addition to nerve and muscle function. Iron helps pregnant women prevent anemia as their blood supply increases, and provides some insurance against low birth weight or premature birth. The APA recommends pregnant women get a minimum of 600 micrograms folic acid, 1000 mg calcium and 27 mg of iron every day.
What Else is Important?
In addition to the big three, prenatal supplements also contain many other vitamins and minerals. These include vitamins A, the B vitamins, vitamins C, D and E in addition to zinc. Like calcium, vitamins A and D also help with bone and teeth formation. The B vitamins include B1, B2, B3 and B6, which help with energy levels, blood formation and digestion. Vitamin C helps build the baby's immune system, and vitamin E helps with both blood cell and muscle development. In addition, the March of Dimes recommends pregnant women get a daily dose of the omega 3 fatty acid DHA, which supports the formation of a healthy brain and eyes.
Are Multivitamins Sufficient?
If you eat a healthy diet, you may be tempted to supplement only a few minerals. Or, you may try to save a little money by taking a standard multivitamin instead of springing for a prenatal. However, these vitamins are not all alike. Prenatal vitamins tend to contain more folic acid and iron than the average multivitamin, in addition to higher concentrations of calcium and vitamin D. Many prenatal vitamins can be purchased without a prescription, making them easy to access. In addition, the March of Dimes warns against overdosing on any particular vitamins, which may be more likely when taking more than one supplement. Prenatal vitamins are best for pregnant women; however, you should always discuss this first with your doctor, especially if you have any preexisting health conditions.
When Are These Nutrients Important?
Believe it or not, pregnancy nutrition becomes important before the pregnancy even begins. The March of Dimes recommends women who may become pregnant take a vitamin with a minimum of 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. MayoClinic.com also advises women who are trying to get pregnant start a prenatal strength vitamin at least three months before they hope to conceive. This is because the neural tube forms in the early weeks of pregnancy, before some women are aware that they are pregnant. In addition, adequate iron intake before pregnancy may help prevent pregnancy-related anemia.
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