Pregnancy is one of the essential experiences in a woman’s life, and this is als the time they need to ensure the utmost care for themselves. However, growing a baby inside you is not easy as it demands a lot of extra care and supplementation. One such supplementation comes in prenatal vitamins that are ideally suited for both the baby and the mother.
This makes it very important for pregnant mothers and women to think of conceiving. So continue reading as we explore the nooks and crannies of prenatal vitamins to ensure you have a successful pregnancy.
What Are Prenatal Vitamins?
Prenatal vitamins are supplements produced explicitly for pregnant women. These supplements give their bodies the appropriate minerals and vitamins needed to support their pregnancy. In most cases, doctors suggest women consume prenatal vitamins right from when they start to plan their pregnancy and when they are pregnant.
While consuming a healthy diet is always a good idea with pregnancy, you also need to finish the best prenatal vitamins. This is simple: the nutritional needs of an expecting mother increase when they are pregnant. Thus, it becomes necessary to consume supplements and suffice the body’s nutritional gaps during this period.
What Should You Look For Prenatal Vitamins?
Prenatal vitamins are very important in ensuring you get the best nutrients to support your pregnancy. This is important because your body’s nutritional demands increase substantially to support your baby’s growth. So you must choose the right vitamins to support this increased demand for nutrition. Thus, some ingredients will ensure you get the best prenatal vitamins Canada.
- Folic acid up to 400 micrograms (mcg)
- 400 IU of vitamin D
- 200 to 300 milligrams (mg) of calcium
- 70 mg of vitamin C
- 3 mg of thiamine
- 2 mg of riboflavin
- 20 mg of niacin
- 6 mcg of vitamin B12
- 10 mg of vitamin E
- 15 mg of zinc
- 17 mg of iron
- 150 micrograms of iodine
It would help if you further kept in mind that, in some cases, your doctor might give you prenatal vitamins that vary in terms of ingredients. However, there is nothing wrong with that because different people have different requirements. As long as your doctor is certain about the vitamins you need to consume, there is nothing much you need to worry about.
Imperative Prenatal Nutrients For Pregnant Women
Of course, the nutritional requirements of a pregnant woman can increase due to obvious reasons. Yet four main nutrients play an imperative role in supporting pregnancy and the growth of the fetus. So let’s take a look at each of these nutrients.
- Folic Acid: Even a person with minimal knowledge about pregnancy and nutrients will tell you to consume more folic acid. It plays an imperative role in ensuring your newborn does not suffer from any congenital disabilities. In most cases, a lack of folic acid can result in defects associated with the spinal cord and brain of the baby. Thus, every doctor will recommend pregnant women consume at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily.
- Iodine: The next important nutrient to support your pregnancy is iodine which is crucial for maintaining your thyroid function. Every pregnant woman needs to consume appropriate amounts of iodine during their pregnancy to ensure things go as planned. Failing to do so can result in complications that include stillbirth, miscarriage, severe mental disability, stunted physical growth, and even deafness in the child.
- Calcium: This is probably the most important prenatal vitamin Canada a pregnant woman needs to consume. As you might have already guessed, calcium plays a key role in supporting bone development in both children and adults. Thus, when a pregnant woman fails to get appropriate calcium, it can increase the baby’s chances of losing bone density. This does not come as a surprise because even the baby needs calcium to support its bone development.
Iron: The final addition to the important nutrients for a pregnant woman is iron. This is very important as it supports increased red blood cells in the body. When the baby is in its early stages of development, it needs red blood cells to carry oxygen and support its growth. Therefore, iron deficiency in a pregnant mother can have severe consequences for both mother and the child.
Conclusion: When Should You Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins?
According to most experts, the best time to start taking prenatal vitamins is at least a month before conception. After that, the primary focus of the mother-to-be must be on increasing their folic acid intake to ensure the baby does not suffer from any congenital disabilities. You can even find experts recommending every woman to learn more about the question of what prenatal vitamins are and consume the same even if they are not planning pregnancy anytime soon.
