Prenatal Vitamins...Do They Help?

Prenatal vitamins are a hot topic among many women these

days and many of them are talking about the benefits of

using them before getting pregnant. The reasoning is that

prenatal vitamins may help prevent some birth defects.

Prenatal vitamins, in my opinion, should probably become

part of the diet plan for expecting mothers. Pregnancy

greatly increases the need for some nutrients and it can be

hard to meet these needs through diet alone. Iron and folic

acid are two such nutrients. Pregnancy is a time when both

mother and baby are growing quickly. This rapid growth

increases the demand for all nutrients, and the development

of the baby and placenta are directly influenced by the

mother's nutritional status. Doctors will often prescribe a

prenatal vitamin to a pregnant patient, but some evidence

suggests that vitamins are beneficial for women who are

planning to conceive. The consistent use of prenatal

vitamins during pregnancy and breastfeeding is advisable to

reduce or avert the chances of nutrition deficiencies.



Most of the prenatal vitamins currently available are meant

to make-up for possible nutritional failings. They almost

always include such nutrients as folic acid, calcium, and

iron. These nutrients lessen the likelihood of birth defects

caused by nutritional deficiencies.



IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS FOR MOTHER AND CHILD:



DHA



DHA is a fatty acid and is necessary for a baby's brain

development. It is needed by the child from the very

earliest stages of pregnancy throughout the time of

breastfeeding. DHA belongs to the omega -3 family of fatty

acids and is essential, especially in pregnancy.



IRON



The mineral iron is drawn upon heavily by the baby in the

third trimester of pregnancy; it draws its supply from the

stored supply of the mother. Iron is very important, and

will be found in most prenatal vitamins.



FOLIC ACID



Folic acid is a must during pregnancy. It is plentiful in

dark leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, and whole grains,

among other foods. It cuts the risk of birth defects in

babies, and is almost always found in prenatal vitamins.



Folic acid has been proven crucial for a baby's neural tube

development, especially during the first trimester when

women are most likely to suffer from nausea and vomiting. In

fact, some recommend women should start taking about 400

micrograms of folate at least a month before they start

trying to conceive.



CALCIUM



Calcium is extremely important as well as essential to both

the mother and child in pregnancy. Calcium and magnesium

help protect the mother's bones during this time when the

demands of both her body as well as the baby's body for

these nutrients must be met. A good prenatal vitamin will

contain calcium, but the mother must also eat a well

balanced diet to obtain calcium as well.



With regard to prenatal vitamins, they are not all created

equal. Most of them try and pack as much as possible into

their vitamins, but they must be careful not to promote

excess of what may amount to be toxic levels of fat soluble

vitamins...for instance Vitamin A instead of beta-carotene,

vitamin A's precursor. The best prenatal needs to provide

what mother and child needs, at just the right amounts, as

well as avoiding amounts that avoid toxicity.



Keith Henry is a medical missionary herbalist,and Naturopatheic Doctor Candidate. He is the Director of Phase 3 Ministries Inc., based in Orlando, FL. Check out Prenatal One A Day

for the Prenatal vitamins that he recommends

ThePrenatal One A Day

vitamins are excellent to help the body with its nutritional requirements.