When a woman becomes pregnant there are many changes that she must make in order to stay healthy for her and her unborn child. Nutrition plays a huge role in a child’s health as well as your own. Not only do you have to eat healthier but you also have to take prenatal vitamins to assist in giving you and your baby the additional nutritional value you both require. There are a number of different prenatal vitamins available but none of them can be used as a substitute for a healthy diet, so both are required. Here is some more information on the importance of prenatal vitamins.

There are many benefits that come with taking a prenatal vitamin while pregnant. What most women do not realize is that prenatal vitamins are much different than your typical vitamin. Prenatal vitamins contain folic acid which assists with any neural tube defects that may occur in your child. These are defects that impact your child’s spinal cord as well as their brain. The iron that is in a prenatal vitamin helps prevent the mother from becoming anemic which can also deeply impact the baby.

Prenatal vitamins contain folic acid, calcium, iron, vitamin C, Zinc, Copper, Vitamin B-6, and Vitamin D. These should not be used as a substitute for good nutrition. You need to make sure you are still maintaining a healthy diet. The calcium will be very helpful especially in your final trimester. Calcium helps to build your baby’s bones and keep them strong. It is crucial that you keep a lot of calcium in your diet including the prenatal vitamin. One thing prenatal vitamins do not contain are omega-3 fatty acids which you will find in fish. So make sure you keep fish in your diet if you are able to.

Iodine is something else that is typically found in prenatal vitamins. The greater amounts of iodine your body has the less hormonal you will be during your pregnancy. If you do not have the right amount of iodine intake, you run the risk of congenital hypothyroidism and even miscarriage or stillbirth. Vitamin D is also essential in expectant mothers. This also helps to keep bones healthy in the mother as well as the child. It also can prevent a painful pregnancy and childbirth.

It is important to talk to your OB-GYN before you begin taking a prenatal vitamin. They can typically prescribe you a vitamin that best suits your needs. If you are already someone who has a very healthy diet they can prescribe one that is built around that. There are some expectant mothers that will require more vitamins others, so always keep that in mind.

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