Many people take a daily supplement in order to boost their health and maintain a strong immune system, but this goes double when you’re eating for two. Prenatal vitamins tend to contain more folic acid and iron that the standard multivitamin does. This is because folic acid helps to prevent defects in the neural tube, which is attributed to abnormalities in the brain and spinal cord, and iron supports the baby’s growth and development. It also helps to prevent anaemia, which reduces the number of healthy red blood cells in the bloodstream. Some studies also suggest that prenatal vitamins can help to decrease the risk of a low birth weight when the infant is born.
There’s never a bad time to start taking care of your baby, even in the preconception stage – taking a prenatal supplement is one of the quickest and easiest ways to ensure you’re creating a safe and healthy environment for your baby to grow. This small but powerful vitamin will give you security with the knowledge that you’re providing the key nutrients it needs to stay healthy. It’s also been found that vitamins for pregnancy can help reduce the levels of nausea you’ll experience, and if that’s not reason enough, it can also increase fertility. Here’s how to choose the best prenatal vitamin and what to look out for.
Check the label
You need to be looking out for at least 400mg of folic acid, also known as folate or vitamin B9, as taking the correct dose of this before and during pregnancy can help to reduce the risk of your baby developing spina bifida, which is a neural tube defect. Calcium is also vital during this phase of your life, and in general for good health, as you’re growing another set of bones which will mean you require more of the white stuff – if you’re not getting enough from your diet, through milk, yoghurt and cheese, then a supplement can ensure you’re ticking this off your list each day. Iron, as previously mentioned, is required in a dose of 30 to 40mg each day. Also, look for other important nutrients such as zinc, manganese and iodine.
Make certain it dissolves
Some prenatal vitamins don’t dissolve inside your body as fast as they need to, so your body misses out on those vital nutrients. Look for the USP label, which stands for the United States Pharmacopeia, which means that it dissolves how it is supposed.
Be sure you can stomach it
These pills can be large, and if you’re struggling to swallow it, it could cause a problem. If this is the case, see if you can find a slicker coated-supplement – pills without calcium tend to be smaller, as the calcium takes up a lot of space. You may want to try one of these instead if you’re finding it difficult to swallow, but be sure to replace this element of the pill with another form, such as upping your intake of dairy. You could also look for a chewable option, but be warned that they don’t taste great! If you’re still struggling, or are finding undesirable side effects, speak to your GP who may be able to offer alternatives.
Don’t overload on supplements
Don’t think that more is better in this situation – it could lead to harmful effects for you and your baby. Stick with the recommended dose and then top up those nutrients with a healthy diet that’s loaded with the key food groups. This means plenty of calcium, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats.
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