So, you have recently found out you are pregnant? Congratulations. Now you really have to start taking care of yourself and your new baby to be. In doing so, it all starts with taking prenatal vitamins. We have all heard that taking prenatal vitamins is important, but the question is, what type of vitamins are the most important? What should we be looking for?
There are many people who will say that taking prenatal vitamins and supplements before conceiving will help in the prevention of many birth defects. Others will say you can get beneficial effects by continuing to take them after you have had your baby and during the time you are breastfeeding. You should ask your doctor for more information and what is best for your particular case. They will even give you different samples to find the one that is best for you.
One strong word of caution on prenatal vitamins. They are meant to be a supplement and not a substitute for a proper diet. Never rely on prenatal vitamins for all your nutritional needs. Talk to your doctor about what foods you should be eating. Prenatal vitamins work better when taken along with a healthy diet.
Be sure to keep an eye on your calcium. An expectant mother generally requires 1,200mg - 1,500mg of calcium on a daily basis. Most prenatal vitamins do not contain this amount, so you may need a calcium supplement in addition. Many will only contain 250-500mg. Calcium is certainly important in the development of your new baby.
No two prenatal vitamins are the same; and many may not provide any benefits at all. Recent studies show that a pregnant woman's body does not necessarily absorb all of the nutrients provided by the vitamins, especially folate. Folate is extremely important in the baby's prenatal development. The vitamin helps prevent birth defects like spina-bifida. Only three out of nine vitamins on average actually provide the amount of folate labeled on the bottle. This is not to suggest that the supplements do not have the vitamin, it just is not absorbed by the woman's body.
Some argue that it is better to take a prenatal vitamin prescribed by a doctor. However, this is not necessarily the case. While prescribed vitamins are ideal, many of the very same vitamins are available in stores and without a prescription. Ask your doctor about this if these aren't covered by your insurance. You may be able to save substantial money with a store bought brand. The most important things to consider are the ingredients in the vitamins, and whether they absorb quickly or not.
There is an easy test you can use to determine if the vitamins will be absorbed into your system. Put one of the prenatal vitamins into a cup of water. Wait ten minutes. If the vitamin is dissolved, or is very soft, it will be absorbed into your system. If the vitamin remains hard, it will probably pass through your system without depositing many of the nutrients it carries. This is important, so be sure to do this with any new vitamin.
When first starting out taking prenatal vitamins, you may experience nausea. If so, let your doctor know about it and take a different brand. I told my doctor about the trouble I was having and she recommended a supplement that I could buy over the counter. This vitamin was not a potent as the one she originally prescribed, but I was getting more nutrients because I was able to tolerate them much better.
Finding the right prenatal vitamin may take a little trial and error, but the benefits are great. Just continue to keep in mind that you still need to maintain a healthy diet. The benefits of prenatal vitamins are enormous and highly recommended, but good nutrition is still better than any supplement.
by Terry Edwards
