Pregnant moms should really consider taking prenatal nutrients. In fact, numerous doctors recommend taking prenatal supplements ahead of, during and after conception to ensure a healthful baby. Prenatal nutritional vitamin supplements are an crucial stop gap to ensure that pregnant mothers get the minimum nutrients for a healthy and happy baby. The vitamins folic acid, calcium and iron are especially important.

Folic Acid Is An Necessary Nutrient

A fundamental B vitamin that is vital for balanced homocystein levels, folic acid deficiency has been linked to a number of prenatal health challenges. The current RDI for folic acid is 400 mcg, but for pregnant women the Mayo Clinic recommends levels of 800 mcg per day. After conception, this level should be increase to as much as 1000 mcg per day. Some of this should come from food sources, such as nuts, beans, citrus fruits or leafy green vegetables.

So why is this basic nutrient so important? Folic acid is needed as low levels have been linked to developmental diseases such as Spina Bifida. Babies born with Spina Bifida are born with open spines and exposed nerves. In other words, the spine and nerves are discernible and outside of the body because of this defect. The result is a devastating birth defect that includes paralysis and numerous other health challenged.

Folic acid has been shown in numerous research studies to put a stop to this birth defect. Because this birth defect develops very early in the first trimester of being pregnant, it is crucial that the mother have adequate folate levels. This is why it is so critical for women to be sure that they are getting the folic acid they need prior to having a baby.

The Significance Of Calcium

Calcium is another necessary mineral during pregnancy. As the baby grows, he or she is using a few of the calcium in the mother’s body to grow. Without enough calcium, the mother’s bones can be at risk for developing osteoporosis. Every adult men and woman who is 19-50 years old, including pregnant women, need 1000 mg of calcium each day.

Beginning at age 51, the calcium requirement increases to 1200 mg per day. This is the suggested dose for all people. Pregnancy nutrients are meant to be used as a supplement, not to fulfill all of the nutritional requirements a person has. As such, the calcium level of most pregnancy natural vitamins is only about 200-300 mg. Another source of calcium is necessary to meet the recommended number of milligrams per day.

The Significance Of Iron

The suggested iron intake for non-pregnant women ages 19-50 is just 18 mg per day. When pregnant, a woman’s iron needs increase to 27 mg per day. Iron supplements will help preclude anemia and make sure that the mother’s and baby’s blood have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen efficiently. Half of all pregnant women are deficient in iron. Iron deficiency has been shown to increase the risk of premature labor and low birth weight. Premature labor and low birth weight come with their own sets of health problems.

Prenatal is a time when numerous things are out of your control. Will your baby have all of his or her fingers and toes? Will he or she have a birth defect? Will you miscarry? All of these things are potential problems that you can do nothing about. One of the things you can control is whether or not you take in enough of the necessary nutritional vitamins and minerals, particularly folic acid, calcium and iron. Give your baby the best possible start in life. Make sure you are taking good quality prenatal natural vitamins throughout your prenatal and while you are nursing. Take Your Parental Natural vitamins And Give Your Baby A Great Start In Life

Obstetricians and midwives all recommend that pregnant women take prenatal vitamins to supplement their diets. A few doctors and midwives tell women to begin pregnancy nutritional vitamin supplements three months prior to conceiving. Making sure that the mother and baby get enough nutritional vitamin supplements is critical. Folic acid, calcium and iron are three of the most vital during pregnancy.

Folic Acid Protects Against Neural Tube Defects

According to Hans R. Larsen, MSc, ChE, about 88% of all Americans do not get enough folic acid in their diets. This means that there is a good chance you are not receiving enough. Folic acid is one of the B vitamins. Women of childbearing age who are planning a pregnancy should take 800 micrograms (mcg) of folate or folic acid every day. Once pregnant, this amount should be increased to 1000 mcg every day. Ideally, most folic acid should come from foods, including green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans and citrus fruits.

What is the big deal about receiving enough folic acid? A deficiency in folic acid can cause a neural tube birth defect, the most frequent of which is Spina Bifida. In a neural tube defect, the baby’s spine and nerves are not safely inside of the body. Rather, the baby is born with an open spine and nerves. That is to say, the spine and nerves are outside of the body, discernible to the eye. In this unprotected state, nerves are damaged. Although surgery can correct this defect, the damage is done to the nerves and the child will have varying degrees of paralysis and other consequences from being born with an open spine.

There is something you can do to avert this birth defect. You can take the recommended dosages of folic acid prior to and throughout your pregnancy. Since this neural tube defect occurs very early in having a baby, within the first 28 days, all women should take 400 mcg of folic acid as a matter of course. Folic acid has been shown to avoid neural tube defects in numerous studies.

Calcium Prevents Against Bone Loss

Growing a new body is a very complex task that draws on the mother’s body. Taking a calcium aid is essential to stop bone loss in the mother. A lack of calcium sets a mother up for a greater risk of osteoporosis and a variety of other health problems. The suggested dosage of calcium for anybody between the ages of 19 and 51 is 1000 mg every day, this includes pregnant women.

Following age 51, the suggested dose of calcium per day is 1200 mg. Keep in mind that prenatal supplements are only meant to aid the diet, not supply the entire amount of calcium necessary. Most prenatal supplements provide only 200-300 mg. So, to meet all of your calcium needs and the needs of your baby, it is important to eat calcium-rich foods and not rely solely on your prenatal vitamin for you calcium needs.

Iron Prevents Low Birth Weight

Iron is essential to red blood cell formation. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the entire body. Without enough iron and red blood cells, you will experience fatigue and a host of other symptoms. A full 50% of all pregnant women do not get enough iron. Women who do not get enough iron have been shown to go into labor too early and have low birth weight children. Pregnant women should get 27 mg of iron each day.

Mother Nature controls most of a baby’s development prior to birth. But, there are things you can influence and defects you can put a stop to by taking the recommended amounts of prenatal nutritional vitamins. Be sure you do everything you can to give your baby a good start in life. Take your nutritional vitamins. You Can prevent Birth Defects By Taking Parental Nutritional vitamin supplements

Women who are planning to become pregnant or who are currently pregnant should take pregnancy nutritional vitamin supplements to correct any deficiencies in their diets. While pregnancy nutritional vitamin supplements will not supply all of the natural vitamins and minerals a woman needs, they will supplement shortfalls in the woman’s diet. Taking prenatal vitamins will ensure that the baby is healthy at birth and that the mother remains healthy throughout her having a baby. Three supplements and minerals that are absolutely indispensable during being pregnant are folic acid, calcium and iron. Being deficient in any of these can create major health problems for the baby and the mother, as well as create complications in the having a baby itself.

Folic Acid: A Required B Vitamin

Research revealed that an astounding 88% of all Americans do not get enough folic acid. According to the Mayo Clinic, all women planning a pregnancy need 800 micrograms of folic acid each day. Upon conception the folic acid requirements increase to 1000 mcg a day.

Neural tube defects are one of the most preventable birth defects. Folic acid can avoid neural tube defects like Spina Bifida. When a baby is born with Spina Bifida, his or her spine is open and outside of the body, not closed and protected. Nerves are exposed and usually experience some kind of damage, which results in paralysis, cerebral palsy and other health issues that will last a lifetime.

Neural tube defects occur by the 28 th day of prenatal. This is well prior to most women even realize that they are expecting a baby. Research has shown that folic acid can thwart neural tube defects. Every woman should take 400 mcg of folic acid or folate per day to make sure their folic acid needs are met.

Calcium: A Required Mineral

All men and women, including pregnant women, who are between 19 and 50 years old need 1000 mg of calcium per day. The baby uses the mother’s stores of calcium and the calcium that the mother eats. If the mother is not getting enough calcium to meet her own needs and the needs of the baby, she could develop health problems, such as bone loss and osteoporosis.

Starting at 51 years old, calcium requirements for all adults increase to 1200 mg per day. Most prenatal nutritional vitamins contain only 200-300 mg of calcium. Therefore, they cannot be relied upon to supply an entire day’s calcium requirements.

Iron: Required For Red Blood Cell Formation

A full half of all pregnant women are lacking in iron, or anemic. Without iron, the body cannot make the necessary number of red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. This results in fatigue and other symptoms, as well as low birth weight and premature labor amongst pregnant women. Iron needs increase from 18 mg a day for females who are not pregnant to 27 mg a day for pregnant females.

Although thrilling, having a baby can be very stressful. Many women experience concern over the health of their baby. And, though much of the development is out of the moms control, there are a number of things that the mother can do to give the baby the best opportunity for health possible. By avoiding alcohol and smoking, eating vigorous and taking a pregnancy vitamin, the mother can do a lot for her developing baby.

Visit Bloomen Nutrition to discover the benefits of pregnancy vitamins as well as how they can support healthy fetal development. These chewable pregnancy vitamins are a great alternative to hard to swallow prenatal pills.

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