Prenatal Vitamins Are Important For a Healthy Pregnancy
While pregnant, and even before having a baby, prenatal nutrients are an important component of prenatal nutrition. Many doctors recommend that pregnancy nutritional vitamin supplements be taken before conception and even after the baby is born for overall health of mother and child. It is very important to both the health of the baby and the health of the mother that she take nutrients just in case her diet does not provide enough of the vitamins she and her baby need. In fact, folic acid, iron and calcium are particularly crucial and if not present in adequate amounts in the moms diet deficiency in these nutrients may lead to health challenges for the fetus.
Folic Acid Is Needed For A Vigorous Pregnancy
Essential for a healthy being pregnant, research sites that as many as 88% of Americans may be deficient in folic acid. The present RDI for folic acid is 400 mcg, but for pregnant women the Mayo Clinic recommends levels of 800 mcg per day. After conception, the need for folic acid increases to 1000 mcg per day. Some of this should come from food sources, such as nuts, beans, citrus fruits or leafy green vegetables.
So why is this basic nutrient so important? Folic acid is needed as low levels have been linked to developmental health conditions such as Spina Bifida. This birth defect occurs when the nerves at the base of the neural tube are not fully enclosed. children are born with their nerves in the spine exposed.. The result is a devastating birth defect that includes paralysis and numerous other health challenged.
Although actual primary research is scarce, folic acid has been shown to significantly reduce the probability of this devastating birth defect. These defects develop very early in having a baby, usually by the 28 th day following conception; this is a time when countless women do not know they are pregnant. This is why it is so critical for women to be sure that they are getting the folic acid they need prior to prenatal.
The Importance Of Calcium
Calcium is another necessary mineral during being pregnant. As the baby grows, he or she is using a number of of the calcium in the mother’s body to grow. Without enough calcium, the mother’s bones can be at risk for developing osteoporosis. Every adult men and woman who is 19-50 years old, including pregnant women, need 1000 mg of calcium each day.
Beginning at age 51, the calcium requirement increases to 1200 mg per day. This is the recommended dose for all people. Prenatal vitamins are meant to be used as a complement, not to fulfill all of the nutritional requirements a person has. As such, the calcium level of most pregnancy nutritional vitamins is only about 200-300 mg. Another source of calcium is necessary to meet the suggested number of milligrams per day.
The Importance Of Iron
The recommended iron intake for non-pregnant women ages 19-50 is just 18 mg per day. When pregnant, a woman’s iron needs increase to 27 mg per day. Iron supplements will help inhibit anemia and make sure that the mother’s and baby’s blood have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen efficiently. Half of all pregnant women are deficient in iron. Iron deficiency has been shown to increase the risk of premature labor and low birth weight. Premature labor and low birth weight come with their own sets of health problems.
Pregnancy is a time when many things are out of your control. Will your baby have all of his or her fingers and toes? Will he or she have a birth defect? Will you miscarry? All of these things are potential problems that you can do nothing about. One of the things you can control is whether or not you take in enough of the essential natural vitamins and minerals, particularly folic acid, calcium and iron. Give your baby the best possible start in life. Make sure you are taking good quality prenatal vitamins throughout your prenatal and while you are nursing. Take Your Parental Nutrients And Give Your Baby A Great Start In Life
Obstetricians and midwives all recommend that pregnant women take prenatal natural vitamins to complement their diets. A few doctors and midwives tell women to begin pregnancy natural vitamins three months prior to conceiving. Making sure that the mother and baby get enough vitamins is critical. Folic acid, calcium and iron are three of the most necessary during prenatal.
Folic Acid Protects Against Neural Tube Defects
According to Hans R. Larsen, MSc, ChE, about 88% of all Americans do not get enough folic acid in their diets. This means that there is a good chance you are not getting enough. Folic acid is one of the B nutritional vitamin supplements. Women of childbearing age who are planning a being pregnant should take 800 micrograms (mcg) of folate or folic acid every day. Once pregnant, this amount should be increased to 1000 mcg every day. Ideally, most folic acid should come from foods, including green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans and citrus fruits.
What is the big deal about receiving enough folic acid? A deficiency in folic acid can cause a neural tube birth defect, the most usual of which is Spina Bifida. In a neural tube defect, the baby’s spine and nerves are not safely inside of the body. Rather, the baby is born with an open spine and nerves. That is to say, the spine and nerves are outside of the body, discernible to the eye. In this unprotected state, nerves are damaged. While surgery can correct this defect, the damage is done to the nerves and the child will have varying degrees of paralysis and other consequences from being born with an open spine.
There is something you can do to stop this birth defect. You can take the suggested dosages of folic acid prior to and throughout your being pregnant. Since this neural tube defect occurs very early in having a baby, within the first 28 days, all women should take 400 mcg of folic acid as a matter of course. Folic acid has been shown to inhibit neural tube defects in numerous studies.
Calcium Prevents Against Bone Loss
Growing a new body is a very complex task that draws on the mother’s body. Taking a calcium aid is essential to stop bone loss in the mother. A lack of calcium sets a mother up for a greater risk of osteoporosis and a variety of other health problems. The recommended dosage of calcium for anyone between the ages of 19 and 51 is 1000 mg every day, this includes pregnant women.
After age 51, the suggested dose of calcium per day is 1200 mg. Keep in mind that prenatal supplements are only meant to complement the diet, not supply the entire amount of calcium necessary. Most prenatal nutritional vitamins provide only 200-300 mg. So, to meet all of your calcium needs and the needs of your baby, it is critical to eat calcium-rich foods and not rely solely on your prenatal vitamin for you calcium needs.
Iron Prevents Low Birth Weight
Iron is necessary to red blood cell formation. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the entire body. Without enough iron and red blood cells, you will experience fatigue and a host of other symptoms. A full 50% of all pregnant women do not get enough iron. Women who do not get enough iron have been shown to go into labor too early and have low birth weight children. Pregnant women should get 27 mg of iron each day.
Mother Nature controls most of a baby’s growth prior to birth. But, there are things you can influence and defects you can avert by taking the recommended amounts of prenatal supplements. Be sure you do everything you can to give your baby a good start in life. Take your nutritional vitamins. You Can prevent Birth Defects By Taking Parental Nutritional vitamins
Women who are planning to become pregnant or who are currently pregnant should take prenatal nutrients to correct any deficiencies in their diets. While pregnancy nutritional vitamins will not supply all of the nutrients and minerals a woman needs, they will supplement shortfalls in the woman’s diet. Taking prenatal nutritional vitamin supplements will ensure that the baby is healthful at birth and that the mother remains vigorous throughout her pregnancy. Three natural vitamins and minerals that are absolutely important during pregnancy are folic acid, calcium and iron. Being lacking in any of these can create major health problems for the baby and the mother, as well as create complications in the pregnancy itself.
Folic Acid: A Required B Vitamin
Research revealed that an astounding 88% of all Americans do not get enough folic acid. According to the Mayo Clinic, all women planning a being pregnant need 800 micrograms of folic acid each day. Upon conception the folic acid requirements increase to 1000 mcg a day.
Neural tube defects are one of the most preventable birth defects. Folic acid can thwart neural tube defects like Spina Bifida. When a baby is born with Spina Bifida, his or her spine is open and outside of the body, not closed and protected. Nerves are exposed and usually experience a few kind of damage, which results in paralysis, cerebral palsy and other health issues that will last a lifetime.
Neural tube defects occur by the 28 th day of having a baby. This is well before most women even realize that they are pregnant a baby. Research has shown that folic acid can prevent neural tube defects. Every woman should take 400 mcg of folic acid or folate per day to make sure their folic acid needs are met.
Calcium: A Required Mineral
All men and women, including pregnant women, who are between 19 and 50 years old need 1000 mg of calcium per day. The baby uses the mother’s stores of calcium and the calcium that the mother eats. If the mother is not receiving enough calcium to meet her own needs and the needs of the baby, she could develop health problems, such as bone loss and osteoporosis.
Starting at 51 years old, calcium requirements for all adults increase to 1200 mg per day. Most prenatal nutritional vitamin supplements contain only 200-300 mg of calcium. Therefore, they cannot be relied upon to supply an entire day’s calcium requirements.
Iron: Required For Red Blood Cell Formation
A full half of all pregnant women are deficient in iron, or anemic. Without iron, the body cannot make the necessary number of red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. This results in fatigue and other symptoms, as well as low birth weight and premature labor amongst pregnant women. Iron needs increase from 18 mg a day for females who are not pregnant to 27 mg a day for pregnant females.
Although exciting, pregnancy can be very tense. Many women experience concern over the health of their baby. While much of a baby’s development is essentially out of the mother’s hands, there are a few things that she can do to help the baby get the best start in life possible. By avoiding alcohol and smoking, eating vigorous and taking a pregnancy vitamin, the mother can do a lot for her developing baby.
Regardless of how many weeks into your pregnancy you are, you can always find ways to help your baby develop and grow. Visit whenpregnant.info to learn what you can do for your baby right now.