Prenatal Supplements

There are not any formal set of rules as such that makes ordinary multivitamins differ from that of prenatal supplements. Most of the prenatal supplements consist of more of iron and folic acid than you would find in any other standard adult multivitamin. Pregnant women require more amounts of nutrients than normal.. It is specifically 200 mcg of folic acid also popularly known as folate, and is close to 50% in excess to allow more blood for the nourishment of fetus. Calcium needs to be maintained at around 1000 mg in order to prevent bone loss late pregnancy. However, as many women do not fulfill adequate calcium levels, the prenatal vitamins will contain this amount of calcium too.

When thinking about pregnancy, timing means everything. For instance, a neural tube defect like Spina Bifida could develop in the embryo even before a woman could know about her pregnancy. This is the main reason why the doctors are encouraging women to take prenatal supplements or at least folate, popularly known to us as folic acid for a couple of months prior to conception. In taking Vitamin B and folic acid, both during and before pregnancy will help in reducing the chances of defects like Spina Bifida or some other neural tube type defects in babies.

Every would-be-mother needs to have about 400mg of folic acid everyday. In addition, if you are trying to get pregnant, having 400mg of folic acid will prove helpful. Most of the prenatal vitamins include 800 mcg. The U.S. Food and Drug Association have recommended a consumption of 800mg of vitamins during the pregnancy period.

As per the report given out by Institute of Medicine, an organization recommending on federal guidelines for the nutritional purposes. Pregnant women need to get sufficient amounts of nutrients through the diet with iron as exception. However, the fact is that just a few Americans eat a diet, which will supply them with the adequate amounts of nutrients. That is the main reason why most of the health care providers recommend that pregnant women take prenatal supplements. With our busy lifestyles, it can get difficult getting sufficient amounts of minerals and vitamins just from our diet. Therefore, supplements act as insurance. Prenatal supplements could prove helpful for pregnant woman as well as benefit the baby.