This is the Importance of Prenatal Vitamins for Pregnancy

Important prenatal vitamins are consumed by pregnant women to ensure adequate nutritional needs when pregnant. During pregnancy, your nutritional needs increase. Although nutrients can be obtained from the food consumed, it is often not enough to meet your needs. Therefore, it is advisable to take prenatal vitamins in order to maintain your health and the fetus. Eating healthy food is the best way to get the nutrients like vitamins and minerals you need. However, it is quite difficult to meet all your nutritional needs and the fetus during pregnancy. Even if you have consumed a variety of foods, including meat, dairy products, vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts, your nutritional and nutritional needs may still not be fulfilled.

Get to know Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins are a combination of vitamins and minerals that women need before, during and after pregnancy, for their health and for their babies. Prenatal vitamins generally contain five important nutrients, namely folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamins, D, and vitamin E. These types of nutrients have their respective roles. The following explanation:

• Folic acid

Folic acid is a type of B vitamin that is found in supplements or added to food, and is a synthetic form of folate. Folic acid as a prenatal vitamin has an important role for those of you who are pregnant, namely for DNA synthesis when new cells are formed, supporting the development of developing baby's organs, and preventing birth defects such as neural tube defects (spina bifida), anencephaly, and encephalocele . Pregnant women are advised to consume at least 400 micrograms of folic acid per day.

• Iron

The recommended dosage to meet iron needs in pregnant women is 27 mg per day. Your body uses iron to produce hemoglobin for you and your baby during pregnancy. Hemoglobin has an important role, which is to channel oxygen from the lungs throughout your body and baby. Iron deficiency can cause iron deficiency anemia and also cause babies born with low weight, or born prematurely. Iron is needed when pregnant, because this nutrient is important for the growth of the fetus and placenta, especially in the second and third trimesters.

• Calcium

Pregnant women need to consume as much as 1000 mg of calcium per day. You need calcium to help the growth of fetal bones and teeth, as well as for the nerves, muscles, and also the heart. In addition, prenatal vitamins that contain calcium are also able to protect you from bone loss during pregnancy and to expedite your circulatory system.

• Vitamin D

This one vitamin is closely related to calcium in its role in the process of fetal bone and tooth formation. Pregnant women are advised to consume a minimum of 600 IU of vitamin D per day. According to research, giving vitamin D supplements to pregnant women can help prevent preeclampsia, support the health of fetal nerves in the womb, and optimize calcium levels and function in pregnant women and fetuses.

• Vitamin E

Vitamin E acts as an fat-soluble antioxidant, protects body cells from damage caused by harmful free radicals, and plays an important role in collagen production. Collagen is a building protein found in cartilage, tendons, and skin.

When should you take Prenatal Vitamins?

Ideally, prenatal vitamins are consumed before you do the pregnancy program. Because when pregnant, this vitamin is very good to support the development and growth of fetal nerve tubes in early pregnancy. However, you are also advised to continue taking prenatal vitamins during pregnancy. It is important to remember that prenatal vitamins are supplements to support the intake of nutrients from a healthy diet for expectant mothers and their babies. This vitamin is not a substitute for a healthy diet that you still have to consume every day. Prenatal vitamins are very important for pregnant women, especially with the following conditions:

• Vegetarian or vegan
• Smoke
• Having lactose intolerance or other types of food intolerance
• Having certain blood disorders
• Have an eating disorder
• Have certain chronic diseases
• Have had twins pregnancy
• Have had gastric surgery

Even though you can easily find prenatal vitamins on the market, you still need to consult a doctor first. Because not all women are suitable for taking certain types of prenatal vitamins. Some prenatal vitamins can make you feel nauseous. If that happens, stop using it and consult your doctor to get prenatal vitamins that are suitable for your and your baby's health in the womb.