Truth is we’ve been delaying this article for a while until we had enough information & facts to allow us to enlighten our readers. Hopefully by the end of this article you’ll have no doubts about this subject.
What Are Prenatal Vitamins?
Eating a healthy diet is always a wise idea — especially during pregnancy. It’s also a good idea to take a prenatal vitamin to help cover any nutritional gaps in your diet.
What To Look For In Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins help ensure that you get the nutrients you need for a healthy pregnancy.
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.
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.
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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. Folic acid/folate
Folic acid, or folate, prevents the risk of your baby being born with a neural tube defect, like spina bifida.
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. Iodine
Iodine is essential for your baby’s brain development and nervous system.
What to take: iodine supplements which contain 150 micrograms, every day, from 3 months before and throughout pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Consult with your doctor. 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. What to take: eat plenty of iron rich foods, like red meat, poultry, tofu and iron-fortified cereals, plus food high in vitamin C, like oranges, kiwi fruit, capsicum and broccoli.