How Prenatal Vitamins can Reduce Low Birth-weight Risks

Doctors advice expectant mothers to take pregnancy prenatal vitamins for her health as well as that of her baby's. Prenatal vitamins are specially made multivitamins that make up for any nutritional deficiency in an expecting mother's diet. While prenatal supplements consist of both vitamins as well as minerals, they are important because of their folic acid, calcium and iron content.

Pregnant women who take a good prenatal multivitamin during pregnancy are unknowingly reducing the risk of giving birth to babies with a low birth weight. With new studies and reports popping up every year with regards to prenatal pregnancy care, this analysis was based on the data collected from studies taken across the globe. Each one of these studies compared those babies whose mothers were regularly taking prenatal vitamins and multivitamins to those who only took prenatal iron-folic supplements or a placebo.

The average birth weight of those babies whose mothers regularly took the multivitamins was at least 2 ounces more than that of those babies whose mothers depended on the iron-folic supplementation. The results showed that mothers who regularly take prenatal multivitamins have at least 17 to 19 percent chances of reducing the risk of low birth weight in their babies, as compares to those mothers who do not take these supplements.

Low birth weight in babies and such complications are considered to be the number one cause of premature death in children aged 5 and below. So, for those of you who are soon expecting to give birth to a healthy baby that is not underweight, prenatal vitamins and multivitamins are the way to go!

Prenatal Nutrition For Healthy Pregnancy

The basic principle of eating healthy food remains the same during pregnancy. However, there are few nutrients that deserves special attention in a pregnancy diet. You need to know what essential vitamins and nutrients you should provide for your baby.

Many expecting mothers often become victim of some vitamin or nutrient deficits. This becomes a problem not to the baby but to the mother as well. So you need to know which prenatal nutrients you need to take more. Here are some of the top pick.

Folic Acid

Folic acid is a B vitamin vital for preventing neural tube defects, serious abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord. When there is a lack of folate in your diet, it may also increase the risk of preterm delivery. You need 800 micrograms of folic acid before conceiving and around 1,000 micrograms a day during your pregnancy.

Protein

Protein is another important nutrient that is essential for the baby’s growth. Your baby’s physical growth largely depends on protein especially during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. You need at least 71 grams of protein a day.

Iron

The lack of iron during pregnancy may result in fatigue and more vulnerable to infections. The use of iron especially during pregnancy nearly doubles. You need at least 27 milligrams of iron in a day.

Calcium

Calcium aids in developing strong bones and teeth. It also helps the body circulatory, muscular and nervous systems. Why the mother needs to take calcium in pregnancy is that if there is lack of calcium in the body then the baby will absorb it from the mother’s bones. So, you need 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day.

Prenatal Supplements

A healthy diet sometimes misses key nutrients. Taking prenatal vitamins daily will help to fill up the gap. Pregnancy prenatal vitamins provide the exact nutrients that are needed during pregnancy.

Common Pitfalls In Prenatal Vitamins

You must have heard a lot about the advantages of prenatal vitamins. They do such wonders during your pregnancy. They not only help you during but pre and post pregnancy as well. However, not all prenatal vitamins are the same.

Though prenatal vitamins are designed to aid women during their pregnancy, some prenatal vitamins may tend to increase the sensation of nausea. Some women also vomit whenever they take their prenatal vitamins. This feeling of constant queasy may make you feel like stop taking the pills altogether.

Another complication that most pregnant women feel when they take the prenatal vitamins is constipation. You may experience constipation when you use prenatal vitamins that may be due to the extra nutrients and iron.

Headache is considered as a common pitfall after consuming some prenatal vitamins. Some women also develop allergic reactions to certain pregnancy prenatal vitamins Taking prenatal vitamins may also create a bad taste in the mouth. This may lead to an aversion to the food you take.

Indigestion, insomnia, vomiting, gas and belching, muscle aches and pains, diarrhea, weakness, discoloration of urine and tinnitus are some of the common effects that certain prenatal vitamins might cause you.

Don’t let all these pitfalls scare you. The fact is that all prenatal tablets are not made the same. The best prenatal supplements may take care of all these problems. Some of the above symptoms may be experienced even when you are not taking the prenatal pills. That may happen when you are not taking a balanced diet.

So what you must do is to take the prenatal vitamin that would not only provide you the best nutrients for your baby but also aid in absorbing the vitamins and minerals well. You must see the ingredients as some of the components may reduce the common pitfalls that most women experience after taking prenatal vitamins.

Vitamins and Pregnancy

Vitamins are vital to keep your body healthy and prevent any illness or diseases. However, it becomes more important during pregnancy. Your body tends to change tremendously during the pregnancy progress, and you need a supply an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals. You will get ample vitamins and minerals from the food you eat. You should have a well balanced diet that includes lots of fruit, vegetables, dairy products, whole grains, poultry, beans and fish that is low in mercury content.

Prenatal Vitamins

Sometimes it is hard for pregnant women to get enough nutrients in their diet. If they cannot get the key nutrients from the food they eat then, they can get them from the prenatal vitamins. Pregnancy prenatal vitamins are especially formulated to meet the increased nutritional needs of the mother and the baby. Prenatal vitamins contain folic acid and other key nutrients needed during pregnancy. Taking prenatal vitamins will provide the ideal balance of vital vitamins and minerals. A prenatal multivitamin prepares your body for the changes that happen during pregnancy. Most pregnancy prenatal vitamins are natural. They have no artificial colors, flavors or preservations. They come in easy to swallow capsules, tablets, or soft gels. It is completely safe to take prenatal supplements and most doctors recommend women to take prenatal vitamins before, during and after pregnancy.

Important Vitamins and Minerals

During pregnancy, there are certain vitamins and minerals that are more important for you and your baby’s health. When you buy a pregnancy vitamin, make sure these nutrients are included in it. Folic acid is one key nutrient that should not be missed out. It prevents birth defects and protects against cancer and strokes. Iron is another important key nutrient that most prenatal pills contain. It develops the muscles for both mother and baby. Thiamin B1 is essential for building and functioning of muscles, nerves and brain cells. It converts carbohydrates into energy and it is very important for the baby’s brain development.