Wednesday, July 3, 2013

The Importance of Taking Prenatal Vitamins


Having a baby is one of the most exciting events for a woman. There is an extensive spread of awareness to having a healthy baby and preventing birth defects. Prenatal vitamins are among the most important things that women should know during a pregnancy period. It must be a top priority because at this vital time, most of the nutrients are used up by the body as it is nurturing the baby's health. These are very important for today's way of life because many women don't have enough time to eat proper and nutritious foods. However, you must remember that it is only a dietary supplement and not a substitute to healthy foods.

The prenatal vitamins prescribed by physicians have great quality and have better absorption of the body. Vitamins are more accessible because it is covered by insurance making it affordable to women. These are multivitamins essentially formulated for pregnant women. Multivitamins come in various formulations depending on your needs. It includes additional vitamins and minerals that a mother needs in order for her to handle the added nutrients that her pregnancy demands.

Calcium is undoubtedly a necessary nutrient for the development of your baby. A woman needs additional calcium mainly because the baby is developing in the womb. Calcium is best to help a mother to maintain her normal blood pressure and water balance during the pregnancy period. It also aids in the formation of the baby's bones and teeth. The development of the skeletal system of the baby takes calcium from its mother. Lack of calcium supplement increases the chance of stress fracture. It could also harm the teeth and bones of the mother. Prenatal vitamins provide the additional calcium that the body requires.

Folic acid is also another important nutrient during pregnancy. It is necessary for the growth of the unborn baby. It helps reduce the risk of neural tube defects, promotes normal cell replication and growth, promotes the development of the fetal central nervous system and reduces the risk of brain and spinal defects.

Iron is a very important element of prenatal vitamins because a mother's iron will be transferred to her developing baby. Iron is responsible in helping the mother and baby's blood to carry oxygen and it also supports fetal tissue growth. Most prenatal vitamins contain additional iron supplements to help the pregnant woman avoid the risk of being anemic. Many women suffer from iron deficiency because they are circulating blood for both their body and their baby. So, it is important to take prenatal vitamins to prevent this from happening.

Prenatal vitamins should not be ignored since it is very important to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. A pregnant woman should go to her obstetrician or midwife to get proper advices about proper diet, general health stress, and other factors that should be considered. Always remember proper diet is still significant so that your body can absorb the nutrients needed for yourself and for your child's development.

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