Prenatal Vitamin

My husband, Jim, and I are planning to have a baby.  Because I wants to be a good mother, I asked my friends about the joys and problems of pregnancy and it was from my friend, Grace, that I first heard about prenatal vitamins. 

I learned that prenatal vitamins are taken to avoid certain problems that could happen during and after pregnancy.  I was told by Grace that prenatal vitamins could help in anemia and bone density loss prevention.  Prenatal vitamins could also prevent unborn babies from developing serious defects in their brain and spinal cord, termed as “neural tube”, which could result in incontinence, paralysis and at times, mental retardation.   

These defects, Grace told me, make it imperative for an expecting mother or even those who are still planning to conceive to take prenatal vitamins.  Usually in the form of multivitamins, these prenatal vitamins are formulated specially to answer the needs of women before, during and even after pregnancy.  Taken as food supplements, prenatal vitamins are intended to make up for the deficiencies that an expectant mother could experience in her nutrition.  These prenatal vitamins have the right amount of nutrients in them that are essential to maintain good health for both the mother and child.  I learned though that in taking prenatal vitamins, I should pay special attention to the amount of folic acid, calcium and iron that are in them. 

Folic acid, calcium and iron are very essential prenatal vitamins.  This is because they are the most important nutrients in prenatal vitamins to prevent defects both in the mother and the baby during and after pregnancy.  I learned that calcium in prenatal vitamins could help me avoid bone density loss, as my baby might use up all the calcium in my body for bone growth.  Prenatal vitamins with the right amount of iron are also best to help in carrying oxygen to the mother and her unborn baby.  Grace also told me that folic acid in prenatal vitamins helps in preventing babies from getting brain and spinal defects.   

To make sure that my body is ready for conception of my baby, I was told by Grace that I could already start taking prenatal vitamins as early as the first month I am trying to conceive.  But, while it is necessary to take a daily dose of prenatal vitamins, I also learned that they are really no substitute to getting the right amount of nutrition through a healthy diet.  Discover more about me and my prenatal vitamin