If you’re here then you’ve probably Google’d about: vitamins needed while pregnant. This article aims to clear any doubts and questions you may have about this subject and we will do our best to do so.
Frequently Asked Questions
Expand All
En “eat for two,” but now we know that it’s dangerous to eat twice your usual amount of food during pregnancy. If you are pregnant with one fetus, you need an extra 340 calories per day starting in the second trimester (and a bit more in the third trimester). That’s roughly the calorie count of a glass of skim milk and half a sandwich.
What Are Prenatal Vitamins?
Prenatal vitamins are supplements made for pregnant women to give their bodies the vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy pregnancy. Your doctor may suggest that you take them when you begin to plan for pregnancy, as well as while you’re pregnant.
What To Look For In Prenatal Vitamins
Look for prenatal vitamins that have: 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid
400 IU of vitamin D
200 to 300 milligrams (mg) of calcium
70 mg of vitamin C
3 mg of thiamine
2 mg of riboflavin
20 mg of niacin
6 mcg of vitamin B12
10 mg of vitamin E
15 mg of zinc
17 mg of iron
150 micrograms of iodine In some cases, your doctor will give you a prescription for a certain type of prenatal vitamin.
Skip Links And Keyboard Navigation
Egnant women should take before and during pregnancy. Once you get pregnant, you’re likely to be bombarded with advice from everyone you know (and possibly strangers on the street!). From what you should eat and drink, to what to expect from pregnancy and birth, or what products to buy and what to run from – chances are there is a lot of well-meaning but overwhelming advice coming your way.
One thing that expecting mothers might hear about is supplements. Below, we’ve listed the supplements pregnant women should be taking during pregnancy and why. Folic acid/folate
Folic acid, or folate, prevents the risk of your baby being born with a neural tube defect, like spina bifida.
Consult with your doctor. Iodine
Iodine is essential for your baby’s brain development and nervous system. Talk to your doctor about checking your iron levels, and eat plenty of iron rich foods while you are pregnant.
Foods with vitamin C will help your body absorb iron. Consult with your doctor. Try to eat a varied diet of nutritious foods from all five food groups – find more tips about healthy eating during pregnancy in our blogs ‘Is it true I can eat for two during pregnancy?’.