Most doctors advise their patients to take prenatal vitamins while they are pregnant and even while they are trying to get pregnant or while they are breast feeding their babies. These vitamins have been created to address all of the unique health issues that mothers and their babies face. Their chief role is to replace any nutritional deficiencies that are present in the diet of the pregnant mother. These vitamins contain a huge variety of vitamins and minerals. However, the most important ones are folic acid, iron, and calcium.

The Role of Folic Acid

When a woman is pregnant, her body has the unique task of making a person. Unfortunately, this process is not always as smooth as it should be, and problems can develop. Folic acid is particularly important for pregnant women because it reduces the chances of them giving birth to a baby with severe birth defects that affect their brain or spinal cord. The most common birth defect in this category is called Spina Bifida, and Prenatal Vitamins decrease the chances that a baby will be born with this defect.

When a baby is born with spina bifida, they are born with a spine that is not closed. The nerves that protrude from the unclosed spine are damaged, and that can cause various problems such as paralysis in some areas, incontinence, or even developmental delays. These defects usually happen in the first four weeks of a woman’s pregnancy. However, many women do not realize that they are pregnant until they are two to six weeks pregnant. For that reason, most doctors recommend that women take folic acid while they are trying to conceive. In fact, because many pregnancies are not planned, all sexually active women should take this mineral in case they get pregnant. The recommended daily amount of folic acid is 400 micrograms per day. However, some doctors recommend that their patients take up to ten times that amount while they are trying to conceive and during the first trimester (twelve weeks of their pregnancy). If a woman cannot take a multivitamin with folic acid, she can try to get it from her diet. Ideally, however, she should take prenatal vitamins with folic acid as well as eating foods that contain it.

Folic acid occurs naturally in the following foods:

• Leafy green vegetables
• Nuts
• Beans
• Citrus Fruit
• It is also added to many breakfast cereals that are labeled as fortified

The Importance of Calcium and Iron

When a baby is developing, he or she needs ample amounts of calcium. If the mother is not providing the baby with calcium through her diet, the baby will simply take what they need from the mother’s reserve supply. Essentially, when a baby is deprived of calcium, he or she will steal it from the mother’s bones and teeth. This will cause the mother to lose bone density which could lead to problems like osteoporosis as the mother gets older.

Iron is just as important as calcium. Iron helps blood carry oxygen. Without enough iron, the baby will struggle to grow, and the mother will feel tired and lethargic.

What Should Be in Your Prenatal Vitamins

Vitamins should not be taken in lieu of a healthy diet. They should be taken in addition to a healthy diet. However, not all vitamins contain the same amounts of vitamins and minerals, and ideally, women should look for a vitamin that contains the following vitamins and minerals in the following dosages:

• folic acid 400 micrograms
• Vitamin D 400 International Units
• Calcium 200 to 300 milligrams
• Vitamin C 70 milligrams
• Thiamine 3 milligrams
• Riboflavin 2 milligrams
• Niacine 20 milligrams
• Vitamin B12 60micrograms
• Vitamin E 10 milligrams
• Zinc 15 milligrams
• Iron 17 milligrams

Different Brands

There are many different brands of multivitamins that have been created for pregnant women. Most likely there is a brand to meet every interesting or unique dietary issue that women have. For instance, women who enjoy raw food diets will be able to find vitamins that only include raw foods. Women who suffer with nausea will be able to find ones that promise to be gentle on their stomachs. Women who prefer organic food will be able to find ones that are all organic, and women who are on a budget will be able to find generic brands.

The following list is only a brief look at a few different brands. They are virtually hundreds of brands on the market, and you may have to experiment before you find the one that you like the best. Here are a few examples of different brands of Prenatal Vitamins:

• One A Day is famous because it includes DHA (Omega 3 Fatty Acids) which helps to promote the healthy growth of babies’ brains and eyes.
• Perfect Prenatal is made by the New Chapter Organic Company, and it includes a variety of vitamins, herbs, and minerals.
• VitaFusion gummies are perfect for women who do not like to swallow their vitamins, and they come in flavors like berries, lemons, and cherries.
• The Nature Made Multi Vitamin includes all of the folic acid and iron that women need in addition to zinc which is important for growing fetuses.
• The Raw Prenatal boasts that its ingredients are not treated or adulterated with any unnatural fillers. They are perfect for anyone on a raw diet or anyone on a dairy or gluten free diet.

How to Take Your Vitamins

While taking your prenatal vitamins, you should remember a few things. You should always drink a full glass of water with your vitamin, and you should avoid taking dairy products with your vitamin. Most dairy products interfere with the body’s ability to absorb iron.
If the vitamin is a capsule, you should make sure to swallow the whole thing without crushing or breaking it. If it is a chewable one, you should make sure to chew it thoroughly to help your body digest it.

Risks Associated with These Vitamins

Taking too much of certain vitamins can cause women to experience an overdose. If you feel extreme stomach pains or vomiting, you should talk with your doctor immediately. However, an overdose is very rare. Some women do experience nausea when they take prenatal multi vitamins. If you have that problem, you should speak with your doctor about options that will be gentle on your stomach. However, the risks associated with prenatal vitamins are minimal compared to the benefits of taking them.