Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal Vitamins Benefits

Sure, you know that prenatal vitamins are a good thing to take while you are pregnant or expecting to be pregnant, but do you knows why and what ingredients do what? There are a number of key ingredients, and higher levels of certain ingredients, that are included in prenatal vitamins to offer the benefits needed. Here is what prenatal vitamins give you that you may be missing:

• Optimum Bone Health: When a woman is pregnant, her body uses all the calcium it can find from her stores to help grow and nourish her baby. This leaves the mother depleted and subject to weaker bones, if not supplied through a prenatal vitamin. So, prenatal vitamins offer bone health.
• Heart Health: Another key benefit to taking prenatal vitamins when pregnant, and why it is vital for a woman’s health, is that the body uses the B vitamins for the baby’s developing skin and mind; and also for heart health. Taking prenatal vitamins with increased levels of B6 and B12, helps the mother with heart health and function by lowering homocysteine levels in the blood.
• Healthy Immune System: Overall, while pregnancy is a miraculous process, the nutrients, minerals, and energy required to physically grow a baby in the mother takes its toll on the mother’s body by making it work harder and by using all of the mother’s nutrient stores for the baby’s health. This naturally weakens the mother’s immunity to viruses and disease, and therefore, more minerals and nutrients - namely, zinc and vitamin C - are necessary for the mother to fight off colds, virus, and infection. This comes in the form of prenatal vitamins.
• Healthy Skin, Hair, and Nails: Another benefit that you get with prenatal vitamins is that due to the amounts of vitamin E, niacin, and riboflavin; the mother will most likely experience healthier hair, nails, and glowing skin.
• Birth Defects Prevention: Lastly, and most importantly, prenatal vitamins not only take care of the mother’s system while the baby develops, they also provide the baby with a strong and vital neural tube (foundation from which the brain and spinal cord develop) by including a large amount of nourishing folic acid. The FDA has shown that women of a certain age that are likely to conceive should take Folic Acid at all times-even if they do not plan on getting pregnant, as the most crucial time period for the development of the neural tube is within the first month after conception.

Prenatal Vitamins Side Effects/Dosage

Though often considered as safe as multivitamins, prenatal vitamins are not approved by the FDA and thus are not as closely monitored as other kinds of supplements. This said the most common of side effects from taking prenatal vitamins are the following: indigestion, heartburn, cramps, gas, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, constipation/diarrhea, headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite, ringing in ears, and/or a metallic taste. It should be mentioned that many of the side effects mentioned here could be as a result of the pregnancy itself.

Prenatal Vitamins Must-Have Ingredients

If you are considering taking prenatal vitamins, then it is necessary to know what should be included in your vitamins. As the FDA does not approve these vitamins, it is crucial that you know what ingredients should always be in your prenatal vitamins to ensure you get the optimum health benefits that you and your baby deserve. Here is a list of the minimum ingredients you should look for:

• Folic acid
• Biotin
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Iron
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B
• Vitamin D
• B Vitamins
• Pantothenic Acid 
• Zinc

Prenatal Vitamins Misconceptions

Of course, with all of this information at hand, you might think that you have all the information you need to go out and purchase your vitamins; but you should also be aware of a few common misconceptions of those new to prenatal vitamins.

• First, know that just taking prenatal vitamins will not be enough for the health and wellbeing of both you and your baby; you must also be following a healthy diet as well.
• Make sure that your vitamins do not have more than 10,000 IU of Vitamin A to avoid birth defects.
• Lastly, make sure to include calcium in your diet-as a prenatal vitamin will not supply with enough calcium.

Visit the educational nutrition page for more information about the best nutrient for your body at this important time in you life. And, you can use the free supplement finder to compare prenatal vitamin options right now!