Pregnancy is probably the most risky stage a woman could experience. It is important to be watchful of the foods and medical supplements you choose to take because they do not just affect your health but the health of your child as well. How do you know that the supplementary medicine you are planning to take has the proper vitamins and nutrients that are necessary for you and your baby? What are the best vitamins and nutrients for pregnant women like you?
There are a lot of vitamins and minerals that pregnant women must acquire. However, you need to know why these kinds of vitamins are essential not just for your health but your baby’s health, too. Let us take a look at why is this so.
Balanced diet is not enough
According to researchers, we cannot get all the minerals and the nutrients that we need by merely observing a proper and a balanced diet. Unluckily, we do not have that much time to prepare and consume all that is necessary for us to have a healthy life. Sometimes, eating fruits and vegetables thrice a week could not be enough. Vitamin intake could cover up for the nutritional gap you might be missing at the end of the day.
According to Dr. Marilyn Glenville, a nutritionist, “A woman’s nutritional status has a huge impact on her pregnancy.” Here are some tips on how to make use of the vitamins and minerals available to your own advantage:
Make sure your vitamin intake is in the right timing
Pediatricians say that supplements should be taken three months before having your baby. The reason for this is that, “This is how long it takes for an egg to mature prior to release and fertilisation,’ Dr. Marilyn Glenville states. If your morning sickness seems to be regular, taking them after you have eaten is a good choice. Remember to take only supplements after your food intake so as to avoid having side effects like feeling nauseous and what have you.
Where to get pregnancy supplements
You can buy certain supplements from several pharmacies as long as they are available. You could also go to your own personal Obstetrician-Gynecologist and have yourself checked so you will be given the fitting and proper prescription.
“Taking supplements can help boost a healthy diet,” that is according to research studies. There are a lot of vitamins and minerals that you must acquire and these are folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K2, calcium, and finally, iron. It is important to include these daily for you to be able to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby in the future:
- Folic Acid – This is the most recommended supplement that is prescribed by doctors. It is important to take this supplement before and after pregnancy. You must take at least 400 micgrograms (mcg) daily before conception and until the twelfth week of your pregnancy. Most women have a high risk of having a baby with birth defects and so they are advised to take 5 milligrams of dosage instead.
PRO:
- Helps in avoiding birth defects like neural tube defect.
- Vitamin B12 – This kind of vitamin is only found in animal meat, eggs and dairy. You should at least have a dose of 250-500 mcg of Vitamin B12 daily.
PRO:
- Contributes to your neurodevelopment.
- Vitamin C – This kind of vitamin is found in green leafy vegetables and fruits. The following are excellent sources of Vitamin C: potatoes, broccoli, strawberries, oranges and orange juice and red and green papers. There are also medicines which contains Vitamin C in them.
PROS:
- Helps in protecting your cells and in maintaining your healthy diet.
- Vitamin D –Breastfeeding women also need this type of vitamin. Your body also makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to a good amount of sunlight. Vitamin D could also be found in some foods like salmon, mackerel and sardines; eggs; and red meat. Since foods such as these contain a small number of Vitamin D, it is important to at least have 10 micrograms of vitamin D daily.
PROS:
- Helps in regulating the calcium and phosphate inside your body in order for you to maintain healthy bones, teeth and muscles.
- Vitamin K2 – This vitamin can be found in food supplements available in pharmacies and supermarkets.
PROS:
- Helps in taking out calcium in the wrong places of your bodies such as kidneys and arteries into the right places such as bones and teeth.
- Helps in preventing cancer.
- Helps in tooth sensitivity.
- Helps in keeping your skin soft.
- Calcium – This vitamin can be found in food supplements available in pharmacies and supermarkets. You need to have at least 1,000 – 1,300 milligrams of this daily.
PROS:
- Helps in preventing your bone loss as your baby grows inside your stomach.
- Iron – This can be found in foods like dried fruits, dried beans, oatmeal or grains, beef and pork. You need at least 27 milligrams of iron a day.
PROS:
- Helps in your haemoglobin production.
- Helps prevent any possible cause of anemia and premature delivery.
With these supplements given out for you, I highly hope for your good health and your future baby’s good health as well.
Author Bio
Emma is the founder of ShrewdMommy, where she and associates blog about pregnancy advice, parenting insights, tips for mommy.