Why Prenatal Nutrients Can Play A Critical Part During Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, congratulations! It is a wonderful journey and one that you will not forget. Part of enjoying your pregnancy is staying as healthy as possible and prenatal nutrients can help with this. There are a few nutrients that you need to make sure any supplement has, and you need to look for them when choosing which prenatal vitamins you will take.
Folic acid is the first nutrient you need to take. It is most important in the very early stages of pregnancy. This is because the brain and nervous system are developing in the first few weeks of pregnancy and folic acid is critical to ensure that they are properly formed. The issue is that because women are not always aware of when they became pregnant, if you are trying to have babies, you should routinely make sure you are taking a folic acid supplement even before you become pregnant.
This disease, spina bifida can have a number of negative results. The baby can be born with fluid on its brain and this can lead to mental retardation. It can also cause the spinal cord to be left exposed to the air which can cause paralysis and underdevelopment of the legs and lower body. The leak of cerebral spinal fluid can result in other very serious health problems as well.
Another nutrient which many women are low on during pregnancy is iron.
Remember that your body, at least in the first trimester, will be making the blood supply and placenta that nourishes and supports the baby. Because of this large volume of extra blood, you need to make sure you are getting enough iron so you do not become anemic. This can lead to serious health problems for both you and the baby. Unfortunately, iron can actually cause nausea, which can cause problems in early pregnancy, when nausea is already an issue. There are two forms of iron and if you cannot tolerate one, you may be better off taking the other form. Your doctor can give you advice about which one you take.
Calcium is critical for growing strong bones in the developing baby. You want to make sure you have adequate calcium levels since the baby will actually pull calcium from your body into its own in order to build strong bones. Women who did not take supplements containing calcium would often report soft teeth. At its worst, a woman can lose her teeth if she does not get enough calcium.
There are a number of different foods that can supply you with the nutrients you need. Calcium is found in dairy products such as milk and cheese. It needs vitamin D to be absorbed properly. You also need to make sure that if you are taking iron that you take vitamin C as well so that you can absorb it properly. If you suffer from morning sickness you may want to explore different ways of taking vitamins.
You can get vitamins in pill form, but you can also get them in powdered and liquid formulas. This may be best if you have trouble swallowing solids. They are worth a try as long as you make sure they have the right nutrients for proper development. You can also take them at night so that you can sleep through any periods of nausea.
If you are a vegan, you may think it is impossible for you to find vegetarian supplements that do not contain animal products. These are becoming easier to find in many health food stores. Make sure that you speak to your health care provider so that they can evaluate the vitamins and make any recommendations about taking extra supplements.
When researching information about Prenatal Support getting the right advice is most important. Please visit the Solgar site for up-to-date advice. Keith Woolley is a Technical Director for Boots Herbal Stores.