Why Are Prenatal Vitamins Important During Pregnancy?

Vitamin and mineral supplements designed specifically for pregnant women are called prenatal vitamins. Both before and throughout pregnancy, your doctor may recommend that you take prenatal vitamins.

In general, but especially so while expecting, it’s wise to eat healthily. If your diet is lacking in certain nutrients, taking a prenatal vitamin can help fill in the gaps.

Vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients included in food help keep your body robust and healthy. While you’re pregnant, your baby relies on you for every nutrient it needs to develop and flourish. Therefore, you could require more than usual during your pregnancy. The nutritional requirements of a woman carrying twins, triplets, or more can be higher than those of a woman carrying a single child. You can rest assured that the amount of nutrients in your prenatal vitamin is just appropriate.

What are the most important nutrients during pregnancy?

While your baby’s growth and development depend on a wide variety of nutrients, the following six are especially crucial:

1. Folic acid

Each and every one of your body’s cells require the B vitamin folic acid in order to thrive and develop normally. Neural tube abnormalities, which affect the brain and spinal cord, can be avoided with the use of folic acid supplementation during and throughout pregnancy (also called NTDs). Preventing birth abnormalities in the baby’s heart and mouth by ingesting folic acid has been shown to be beneficial in several trials (called cleft lip and palate).

Daily supplementation with 400 mg of folic acid is recommended before conception.

Even if you’re not attempting to conceive, it’s important to take a daily vitamin containing 400 mcg of folic acid.

Take a daily prenatal vitamin containing 600 mcg of folic acid when pregnant.

2. Vitamin A

Vitamin A is important for the development of the fetus’ eyes, hearing, limbs, and heart. Vitamin A is measured in international units (IU), and doses beyond 10,000 IU can be harmful. To avoid this, many companies instead utilize beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body.

3. Calcium

Baby’s bones, teeth, heart, muscles, and nerves all benefit from calcium’s presence in the diet. Women require an extra 1,000 mg of calcium daily during pregnancy. You can achieve this by taking prenatal vitamins and consuming foods rich in calcium. Calcium-rich foods include:

• Cheese, yogurt, and milk
• Plants like broccoli and kale
• Orange juice that has calcium added to it

During pregnancy, calcium from the mother’s bones is transferred to the developing fetus if the mother does not consume enough calcium. In the long run, this can affect one’s health and increase the risk of illnesses like osteoporosis. Bones weakened by osteoporosis are more prone to fractures.

4. Vitamin D 

Vitamin D is essential for maintaining strong bones, teeth, and muscles because it controls the body’s calcium and phosphate levels.

When our skin is exposed to the sun throughout the summer, our bodies produce vitamin D.

Some foods, such as:

• Oily seafood, also contain vitamin D (such as salmon, mackerel, herring, and sardines)
• eggs
• red meat
• Some morning cereals, fat spreads, and dairy-free milk options have vitamin D added to them. Depending on the product, the amounts added may be negligible.

However, getting enough vitamin D from food alone is challenging because it is only contained in a small number of foods, either naturally or as an additive.

Do not exceed the recommended daily intake of 100 mcg (4,000 IU) of vitamin D.

5. Iron

Iron encourages the production of new red blood cells in the body. These erythrocytes supply the newborn with the oxygen it needs to grow.

Every day throughout pregnancy, you require 27 mg of iron. This is the typical amount found in prenatal supplements. Iron can also be obtained from eating meat and other animal products. 

These foods are excellent iron sources:

• Meats, fish, and seafood that are low in fat
• Foods including cereal, bread, and pasta that have iron supplements 
• Vegetables with lots of leaves
• Dried goods, such as beans, nuts, and fruit

Vitamin C-rich foods boost iron absorption. Consuming foods like orange juice, tomatoes, strawberries, and grapefruit on a daily basis is highly recommended.

6. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is important for a healthy immune system. It’s great for your bones and muscles, too! A daily intake of at least 80 mg of vitamin C is recommended for women under the age of 19, and 85 mg for those who are 19 or older during pregnancy.

Besides your regular prenatal vitamin, other good sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits and drinks, strawberries, broccoli, and tomatoes.

Do prenatal vitamins have side effects?

The potential negative consequences of prenatal vitamins are a topic of much interest. Unfortunately, prenatal supplements can cause gastrointestinal distress in a few expecting mothers. If this occurs, discuss alternative vitamin brands or formulations with your physician.

Tablets and capsules are both available as prenatal vitamins, so it’s important to experiment to find the form that best suits your needs. Your healthcare provider or midwife can advise you on which prenatal vitamin is safe and effective for you.

Conclusion

Vitamins and minerals can be obtain through food sources, but a balance diet is optimal. But it’s possible to be deficient in essential nutrients when pregnant. Supplementing with prenatal vitamins is a good idea if you are pregnant or trying to conceive. However, a  gynecologist doctor can help you determine the optimal daily intake of these vitamins.

FAQs

1. What is the most crucial prenatal vitamin to take?

To reduce the risk of serious neural tube problems in your unborn child, you should take a daily prenatal vitamin containing folic acid (also called folate) (called neural tube defects).

2. At what time of day is it best to take prenatal vitamins?

These should be taken with a meal and a glass of water for best results. If you want to avoid stomach discomfort and acid reflux, take them with breakfast or lunch.

3. Why is iron so crucial for pregnant women?

Extra blood for both you and your unborn child is something your body needs to generate, and iron helps with that. Nonpregnant women require a daily dose of iron 18 mg lower than that recommended for pregnant women. There is a higher daily need for pregnant women, 27 mg. Most prenatal vitamins already include this higher dose.