Pregnancy Vitamins – Your Unborn Child Will Thank You!

As a responsible mother-to-be, you will be aware of the importance of pregnancy vitamins during pregnancy. While a well-balanced diet, made from a wide variety of healthy, wholesome foods and containing the right mix of minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, protein, fatty acids, and folic acid, goes a long way toward ensuring your baby’s health, Most doctors advise the mother-to-be to also take prenatal vitamins. These supplements do not replace a healthy pregnancy diet, but rather ensure that the mother receives enough daily nutrients. These supplements work best when taken as part of a healthy diet during pregnancy.

The most important vitamins for pregnancy are folic acid, iron and calcium. Folic acid is essential for the healthy development of the baby’s brain and neural tube, more commonly known as the spinal cord. Lack of folic acid can cause spina bifida, which is simply when the spine hasn’t closed. Excellent sources of folic acid are dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, citrus fruits, and fortified cereals.

Iron helps the mother’s and baby’s blood carry oxygen and prevents anemia, low birth weight, and premature birth. Mothers often become anemic during the last few months of pregnancy as the baby draws on necessary reserves from the mother. Good sources of iron include meats like pork and beef, dried fruit, wheat germ, and spinach.

Calcium is essential for the development of the baby’s teeth and bones and, again, the baby will draw its reserves from the mother if it does not receive it in its nutrients. This can lead to osteoporosis in the mother later in life. Excellent sources of calcium include yogurts, cheese and milk.

Proteins are very important and help the body to repair cells as well as promote healthier breast and uterine tissues. Protein can be obtained from seafood, meat, poultry, and dairy products.

Vitamin A is also essential for healthy tooth and bone development in babies, and can be obtained from liver, milk, eggs, carrots, and potatoes. Care should be taken if you eat liver as it is high in vitamin A and too much vitamin A can also harm your baby.

Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium into your bones and can be found in fish and milk.

Vitamin C supports the growth of the baby and helps repair and heal the mother’s tissues. It can be found in citrus fruits, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, green beans, and tomatoes.

Vitamins B1 and B2 help the mother’s body process carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. They also help maintain your energy levels. They can be found in meat, poultry, fish, eggs, fortified cereals, nuts, and pasta.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for the development of your baby’s brain, nerve and eye tissue. These nutrients can be obtained from foods such as salmon, trout, and other cold-water fish, as well as dairy products. Other essential elements include vitamin B5, which regulates the body’s adrenal activity and antibody production. Vitamin B12 helps maintain your baby’s nerve functions, while vitamin B6 is vital for your fetus’s brain development.