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  • Many women wonder about taking prenatal vitamins and if they are necessary during pregnancy. Some studies show women who take prenatal vitamins have healthier babies and often less problems during pregnancy. With so many choices of prenatal vitamins on the market though, it can be confusing deciding which to take. Many prenatal vitamin brands will give you exactly what you need but choosing carefully will ensure they have certain components and meet the recommended dosage of each component.

    Folic Acid

    Folic acid is the most important component when it comes to taking a prenatal vitamin. Folic acid is known to be effective in preventing problems like spina bifida, a condition in which a baby is born with an underdeveloped spine, so it's important your prenatal vitamin includes folic acid. A baby with spina bifida will have walking and mobility difficulties for his entire life, so ensuring you get the recommended dosage of folic acid is vital to your baby's health. It's also been shown that the synthetic form of folic acid, used in prenatal vitamins, is even more effective than folic acid from natural sources like dark green leafy vegetables. This doesn't mean you shouldn't be eating things like green leafy vegetables and whole wheat bread, as they have their own health benefits when you're pregnant, only that you taking a synthetic form of folic acid in a prenatal vitamin is also a good idea. When you choose a prenatal vitamin, make sure the one you choose has at least 0.4 mg of folic acid listed on the label as this is the minimum recommended dosage of folic acid for a pregnant woman.

    Calcium and Iron

    Calcium and iron are the other two most important components of prenatal vitamins. Of course, most people know calcium helps a baby develop strong bones and teeth but calcium also helps with the development of healthy nerves and a strong and healthy heart. Calcium is important for you too as, when you're pregnant, your baby will take all the calcium she needs from your body if she cannot find it from prenatal vitamins or food. This will give you a higher chance of developing osteoporosis as you get older. Choose prenatal vitamins that have at least 1,200 mg of calcium for the recommended dosage you'll need during your pregnancy. Iron is important in a prenatal vitamin because some studies show mother's who are deficient in iron may have low-birth-weight babies or even give birth prematurely. Choose a prenatal vitamin that has the recommended dosage of 325 mg of iron in it, but monitor yourself closely. Some pregnant women report constipation or cramping when they take prenatal vitamins with iron. If this happens to you, talk to your doctor for a recommendation for alternatives.

    Brands of Prenatal Vitamins

    Choosing a brand of prenatal vitamin shouldn't be as important to you as what components the prenatal vitamin has. Of course, it's wise to choose a higher quality vitamin and not one of the cheap, low-quality vitamins at the drug store with more filler than vitamin. But, often a $25 bottle of vitamins isn't any different than a $10 bottle. The only difference is how much money will leave your wallet. If you're in any doubt, ask your doctor for recommendations on the best prenatal vitamins for your needs. Many doctors too have samples of prenatal vitamins so you can always ask your doctor for two or three different brands to try. Different brands of vitamin affect different people and, where one brand may have no adverse effects on some pregnant women, the same brand may make you constipated or bloated. It's best to try a few free samples before plunking down some of your hard-earned cash on prenatal vitamins you quickly discover you cannot take.

    Source:

    Prenatal Vitamins

    Iron Supplementation in Pregnancy

    Folate Supplements

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