When planning her pregnancy, many “Moms-to-Be” become preoccupied with the fun aspects of being pregnant such as designing the baby’s nursery, choosing a name, or wondering about the baby’s gender. However, focusing on the optimal health of the mother and her unborn baby is also quite critical; therefore, a good Obstetrician / Gynecologists (OB/GYN) will suggest maintaining a healthy exercise routine and taking prenatal vitamin supplements during and after her pregnancy.
During the first trimester, many women are just so exhausted and the couch calls you to lie down and sleep. And while it is very important to get this needed rest, it is equally important to find time to exercise in preparation for labor and delivery, to maintain optimal health for both mother and baby and to stimulate a positive mood. During ones pregnancy, proper planning and self care are vital. It is important to eat a diet low in sodium
and ensure you eat foods with iron and calcium. Studies have shown a daily intake of 400 micrograms folic acid can reduce your risk of having a baby with a serious birth defect of the brain and spinal cord.
Doctors also suggest at least 20 minutes per day of light physical activity to ensure good health during and after pregnancy. Signing up for the gym is not necessary, but taking a yoga class, or simple walk during your lunchtime break or stroll in the evening with your significant other can be the perfect solution. Good diet and proper exercise are necessary to ensure that the pregnant mom will avoid having problems during pregnancy and enable her to deliver a healthy baby. To supplement ones diet and exercise, taking a prenatal vitamin can aid in maximizing one’s health.
What Are Prenatal Vitamin Supplements?
Prenatal vitamin supplements are designed to be taken before, during, and after pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins, though, would not necessarily replace healthy diet for pregnant and lactating women. Like other supplements, prenatal vitamins are made to ensure that the mother and her baby would get enough vitamins and nutrients.
Other Benefits of Prenatal Vitamin Supplements
Prenatal care is not just about ensuring ones health during pregnancy. What you a pregnant Mom does during pregnancy will certainly affect the health of the baby. Adequate intake of essential nutrients found in a prenatal vitamin supplements would ensure that the baby would undergo normal growth inside the mother’s womb.
One of the common drawbacks of not having enough essential nutrients during pregnancy is poor fetal brain, spinal cord and eye development. And that is certainly an undesirable possibility for and expecting parent. The American Dietetic Association is all too aware of this fact. So they really recommend prenatal vitamin supplements for a healthy pregnancy outcome not just for the mother but for the baby as well.
What Prenatal Vitamin Supplements Should You Get?
Deciding on what prenatal vitamins to buy can be a tough decision especially with all of the choices available at your local health food store or on-line. The deciding factor should be the quality of the materials in the prenatal vitamin supplement. Here are some general guidelines you should look for when choosing prenatal vitamins:
* 400 mcg of folic acid
* 10 mg of vitamin E
* 6 mcg of vitamin B12
* 400 IU of vitamin D
* 2 mg of riboflavin
* 70 mg of vitamin C
* 3 mg of thiamine
* 15 mg of zinc
* 20 mg of niacin
* 200 to 300 mg of calcium
Don’t just settle for the ordinary prenatal vitamin. Some prenatal vitamin supplements have synthetic casing which are hard to digest and could cause a person to have a recurring upset stomach. Select prenatal vitamins supplements which contain natural outer casing or liquid and have the essential nutrients and minerals needed as listed above. Following these guidelines will ensure good health for both mother and baby.
Health is far greater than wealth. Investing in proven prenatal vitamin supplements with high quality content is really the best decision that you can make.
Below are two great referance sites:
- science & technology/pitt study links low vitamin d during … – vitamin d deficiency early in pregnancy is associated with a five-fold increased risk of preeclampsia, according to a pitt study reported this month in the journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. a serious complication of …
- Healthy Pregnancy: Healthy Baby (Part 1 of 3) – Gloria Gilbere, DHom, ND, PhD. These simple steps will help you reduce your exposure to synthetic pesticides and guard against certain cancers and high dioxin intake, among other toxin-building substances. …
