This subject along with many others are quite common.
What Are Prenatal Vitamins?
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.
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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. What to take: folic acid/folate tablets which contain at least 400 micrograms, every day, from 12 weeks before conception to the end of the first trimester (first 12 weeks, or three months, of pregnancy). Consult with your doctor.
What to take: iodine supplements which contain 150 micrograms, every day, from 3 months before and throughout pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Iron
Your body requires increased iron during pregnancy. 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?’.
And ‘How Much Weight Should I Gain During Pregnancy?
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Women carrying twins should consume about 600 extra calories a day, and women carrying triplets should take in 900 extra calories a da.