Taking Supplements During Pregnancy
Good nutrition is vital to promote both a healthy pregnancy and baby.
It is important to be vigilant about getting enough nutrients to nourish your body and support your baby’s development as best you can. Remember that your nutritional requirements are different during pregnancy as your body is working extra hard; if your body is deficient in a vitamin or mineral, this can have consequences for the health of your baby.
You can get most of the vitamins and minerals you need by eating a healthy, balanced diet but during pregnancy there are some nutrients that are recommended to be taken as supplements. Prenatal supplements on a daily basis (alongside a balanced, healthy diet) can help make sure you and your baby are getting the minimum requirements of vitamins, minerals and nutrients.
You may choose to take a multivitamin supplement that is specifically designed for pregnant women. Mom and Baby Pure Prenatal multivitamin supplement contains folate (using only 100% organic certified lemon-peel extract) and has been formulated with the help of doctors, midwives and other medical professionals to make sure you and your baby are getting exactly what you need during this important time.
Folic Acid
Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and NICE (in the UK) recommend a daily intake of 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid. If possible, this should be taken from before you are pregnant until you are 12 weeks pregnant. Folic acid is important, particularly in the first trimester, as it is known to reduce the risks of spina bifida and other neural tube defects.
There is a difference between folic acid (the synthetic form) and folate (the natural form). Folic acid is not natural and must be converted to folate by the liver. Read the label of your multivitamin supplement carefully to see if you are getting true folate or synthetic folic acid.
Vitamin D
Evidence also supports the use of Vitamin D during pregnancy as it may boost bone and muscle health for you and baby. The recommended amount is 10 mcg daily throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. Mom & Baby Pure Vitamin D contains Vitamin D3 which is naturally sourced from lanolin; it is suitable for vegetarians and contains no chemicals or additives.
Omega-3
DHA is a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil, marine algae and plants and is an essential nutrient which helps build your baby’s brain, nervous system and eyes. Mom & Baby Pure DHA is a vegetarian version sourced from marine algae oil and is specially formulated for you and your baby.
Vitamin A
One vitamin, about which there is some disagreement between health professionals in different countries, is Vitamin A. This is because there was research back in the 1990’s which showed that it can increase the risk of birth defects.
However, Vitamin A is absolutely essential for your baby’s growth and development in the womb. It is critical for lung development and plays a huge role in your baby’s cell growth, eye, heart, limb, and ear development, healthy skin and mucous membranes, infection resistance, bone growth and fat metabolism. But, it is vital that you get the right type of vitamin A. Vitamin A comes in several forms. The form, beta-carotene is totally safe. Beta-carotene is the type of Vitamin A found in vegetables like carrots and may be safely taken either from your diet or in supplements. The other form, retinol, can lead to vitamin A toxicity and cause birth defects. Retinol is the form of Vitamin A to avoid. Foods such as liver, cod liver oil and liver products such as pâté should be avoided as they contain high amounts of the retinol form of Vitamin A.
Currently the UK does not recommend additional Vitamin A supplementation, but the USA does.
Remember to choose you food and your supplements wisely, as taking care of both you and your baby is your top priority!
Sources
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/vitamins-minerals-supplements-pregnant.aspx
https://wellnessmama.com/4403/pregnancy-nursing-supplements/
http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20040716/pregnant-omega-3-essential-for-babys-brain#1
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/11/16/vitamin-a-types.aspx
http://www.everydayhealth.com/pregnancy/101/dha-in-pregnancy.aspx
