The Best Natural Prenatal Vitamins

During pregnancy, your body requires more vitamins and minerals to deal with not only your own needs, but with the needs of your growing baby. Numerous over-the-counter prenatal multivitamins exist that take into consideration a pregnant woman's needs, but you can also purchase separate vitamins to suit your individual needs after consulting with your health care provider.

Natural Versus Synthetic

The majority of vitamin supplements sold today are considered synthetic. Synthetic vitamins are made with chemical compounds that do not exist in nature. For the most part, your body utilizes vitamins the same way regardless of whether they are natural or synthesized by a manufacturer. The exception to this rule is vitamin E. While the body uses the natural form, it has a hard time making use of the synthetic form. So if you are taking synthetic vitamin E, your body only uses about half the dosage and excretes the remainder. For the remaining vitamins, choosing natural over synthetic may be a personal choice.

Folic Acid

Folic acid is a B vitamin that can reduce your baby's risk of spina bifida, anencephaly and other neural tube defects by 50 to 70 percent. This vitamin also helps support the placenta and may protect you against cancer and stroke. Pregnant women should take 600 mcg of folic acid per day. It is also recommended that you begin taking folic acid even before you conceive to make certain you have enough of the vitamin in your system as your baby begins to develop.

Iron

Iron is essential during pregnancy because your red blood cells help carry oxygen to your own organs and tissues as well as to your baby. Your iron needs increase to support the growth of your baby and to produce the extra blood needed for his development. If you do not have enough iron in your body, you can develop anemia. This condition can cause preterm delivery, low birth weight and infant mortality. You should supplement with 27 mg of iron per day while pregnant.

Calcium

Calcium is essential as your baby develops and is crucial in the third trimester when your calcium needs increase. This vitamin will help strengthen the baby's bones, teeth, nerves, muscles and even his heart. When you don't have enough calcium from your diet to cover your baby's needs, your body will take calcium from your bones to pass on to your baby. To prevent this from happening, you should be supplementing with 1,000 to 1,300 mg of calcium daily during pregnancy.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps your body use calcium and phosphorus more effectively. If you are deficient in this vitamin during your pregnancy, you are more at risk of the life-threatening condition preeclampsia or of needing a cesarean section. You may also pass the deficiency on to your child, increasing the risk that he will have rickets, abnormal bone growth or delayed physical development. Aim to get 5 mcg of Vitamin D per day will pregnant.