What Vitamins To Take During Pregnancy

Continued Supplementation Throughout Pregnancy

What Supplements I Take During Pregnancy

Canadian survey data show that it is difficult for most women of childbearing age to consume enough folate from diet alone to meet their pregnancy needs. Over 75% of non-pregnant/non-breastfeeding women aged 19 50 have intakes less than the Estimated Average Requirement Footnote 10 for pregnancy, 520 mcg of DFEs . To meet folate needs during pregnancy, women should consume a varied diet that provides dietary folate , and continue taking a multivitamin containing 400 mcg of folic acid throughout their pregnancy.

Table I This table charts the sources of dietary folate from different food.

Food

Do You Need Vitamin A Supplements During Pregnancy

No, Its not a good idea to take more Vitamin A when youre pregnant. Vitamin A is easily available in diets that we take daily, and maternity supplements also include it. So make sure youre not taking more than the recommended dosage.

Consult your doctor if you want a vitamin A supplement or if you have questions about prenatal vitamins. Without doctor advice, taking an excessive amount of vitamin A supplement may be harmful to the baby.

Where To Get Pregnancy Supplements

You can get supplements from pharmacies and supermarkets, or a GP may be able to prescribe them for you.

If you want to get your folic acid from a multivitamin tablet, make sure the tablet does not contain vitamin A .

You may be able to get free vitamins if you qualify for the Healthy Start scheme.

Find out more about the Healthy Start scheme.

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Take Care With Certain Vitamins

Your body only needs a small amount of each nutrient, and higher amounts are not necessarily better. In fact, consuming more than you need can sometimes cause harm.

For example, high doses of vitamin A, vitamin C, or vitamin E can be dangerous. It’s best not to take these vitamins as supplements in pregnancy.

It’s also best to avoid foods that may be very high in vitamin A, including liver and liver products such as pâté.

Just as you need to check with your doctor before you take any medicines while pregnant, it’s best to talk to your doctor before taking any supplements.

Important Nutrients During Pregnancy

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A healthy diet during your pregnancy will benefit you and promote your babys development. Talk to your doctor about supplements to make sure they’re necessary and safe for you and your baby.Folate or Folic Acid

Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9. It’s found in many foods. When its a supplement or added to foods, its known as folic acid.Folate helps prevent neural tube defects. The neural tube develops into your babys brain and spine. These birth defects happen very early in pregnancy, often before you know that youre pregnant. The two most common neural tube defects are spina bifida and anencephaly .Folate is found in different foods, including:

  • Legumes, like peas and dried beans
  • Leafy, dark green vegetables such as spinach, romaine lettuce, and broccoli
  • Whole grains
  • Seafood
  • Fortified foods

If youre pregnant or breastfeeding, you should get 600 micrograms of folate a day. Its hard to get this amount from food, so doctors usually recommend a folic acid supplement.

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As a Registered Dietitian, Sydney Greene takes supplement recommendations seriously. Every product has been researched and vetted by her against clinical research, product reviews, and third-party testing websites. These are products she would not only feel comfortable recommending to her clients but she would take them herself if needed.

What Is Folic Acid

Folic acid is a B vitamin that every cell in your body needs for healthy growth and development. Taking folic acid before and during early pregnancy can help prevent birth defects of the brain and spine called neural tube defects . Some studies show that taking folic acid may help prevent heart defects and birth defects in your babys mouth .

  • Before pregnancy take a vitamin supplement with 400 mcg of folic acid every day.
  • Take a vitamin supplement with 400 mcg of folic acid each day, even if youre not trying to get pregnant.
  • During pregnancy, take a prenatal vitamin each day that has 600 mcg of folic acid in it.

Check the product label to see how much folic acid is in it.

If youre at high risk for having a baby with an NTD, talk to your provider about how you can safely take 4,000 mcg of folic acid each day to help prevent an NTD. Start taking 4,000 mcg at least 3 months before you get pregnant and through the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Youre at high risk if:

  • Youve had a pregnancy with an NTD in the past.
  • You or your partner has an NTD.
  • Your partner has a child with an NTD.

Dont take several multivitamins or prenatal vitamins. You can get too much of other nutrients, which may be harmful to your health. Your provider can help you figure out the best and safest way for you to get the right amount of folic acid.

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How Do I Choose Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins are readily available over the counter and a prescription is generally unnecessary.

If youre concerned about which to choose, dont be. Theres not much difference between over the counter and prescription prenatals, and both are adequate, assures Dr. Nwankwo.

Sometimes prescription prenatals may have special formulationsfor example, they may have a stool softener added to help with constipation, or they may have additional iron. The pills may also be smaller and easier to take. But its not necessary, she says. It also doesnt matter whether you take a tablet or a gummy, just make sure it has the right amount of vitamins you need.

Every vitamin can differ in the types and amounts of nutrients it contains because specific vitamin ingredients arent regulated by the FDA. If the vitamin you choose doesnt contain the full recommended daily amount of a nutrient, be sure to eat foods that are high in that vitamin or mineral.

When shopping for prenatal vitamins look for these four primary nutrients that are especially important during pregnancy, per Dr. Nwankwo and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists):

  • Folic acid: 600 mcg
  • Iron: 27 mg
  • Calcium: 1,000 mg
  • Vitamin D: 600 IU

The following vitamins are also essential during pregnancy, and you may not get enough of them through diet alone. Having these in your prenatals are helpful too:

  • Vitamin A: 770 mcg
  • Vitamin C: 85 mg
  • Vitamin B12: 2.6 mcg
  • Choline: 450 mg

Can I Overdose On Folic Acid

VITAMINS AND MINERALS TO TAKE DURING PREGNANCY

Most women shouldnt take more than 1mg of folic acid a day. Some women who are at a higher risk of having babies with neural tube defects might benefit from up to 5mg a day .

Family history of or previous pregnancies with neural tube defects, diabetes, and taking anti-epileptic medication when you’re pregnant raise your risk of having babies with neural tube defects. If you are at higher risk, talk to your GP or midwife as they can prescribe a higher dose and/or recommend additional screening tests .

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Nutrient needs are increased during pregnancy to support the growth and development of the fetus while also supporting the health of the mother. But with so many prenatal vitamins out there, how do you make the right choice? It is important to make sure prenatal supplements have been tested by third-party labs and offer maximum transparency to consumers.

A prenatal vitamin is a multivitamin that is designed with pregnancy and breastfeeding in mind. The number of vitamins and minerals in these supplements are safe and appropriate when trying to conceive, during pregnancy, and postpartum while you are breastfeeding. Some specialized prenatal vitamins may also have other pregnancy-related additives, including DHA .

Folic Acid Before And During Pregnancy

Its important to take a 400 micrograms folic acid tablet every day before you’re pregnant and until you’re 12 weeks pregnant.

Folic acid can help prevent birth defects known as neural tube defects, including spina bifida.

If you did not take folic acid before you conceived, you should start as soon as you find out you’re pregnant.

Try to eat green leafy vegetables which contain folate and breakfast cereals and fat spreads with folic acid added to them.

It’s difficult to get the amount of folate recommended for a healthy pregnancy from food alone, which is why it’s important to take a folic acid supplement.

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Herbal Supplements Can Help With Ailments With Caution

In addition to micronutrients, herbal supplements are popular.

One 2019 study found that 15.4 percent of pregnant women in the United States use herbal supplements. However not all disclose to their physicians theyre taking them.

While some herbal supplements may be safe to take during pregnancy, there are far more that might not be.

Although some herbs can help with common pregnancy ailments like nausea and upset stomach, some may be harmful to both you and baby.

Unfortunately, there isnt much research regarding the use of herbal supplements by pregnant people, and much is unknown about how the supplements can affect you.

The safest bet? Keep your doctor in the know about any and all changes to your eating plan and supplements.

When Should I Start Taking A Prenatal Vitamin

One A Day Womens Prenatal Multivitamin Gummies ...

The best time to begin taking prenatal vitamins is before you conceive. The folate in a prenatal vitamin taken before conception significantly reduces the chances of neural tube irregularities like spina bifida.

A babys neural tube, which will develop into both the brain and spinal cord, develops during the first month of pregnancy. That could happen before you even realize youre pregnant.

If you arent already taking a daily prenatal vitamin, start taking one as soon as you find out youre expecting. Youll continue taking your prenatal vitamin every day during your pregnancy.

Your doctor might also recommend you continue to take prenatal vitamins after delivery, especially if you decide to breastfeed.

If you have pregnancy complications or other health concerns, your doctor might recommend a prescription prenatal supplement. Otherwise, over-the-counter vitamins are available at the pharmacy or online.

While there are many brands available, youll want to choose a prenatal vitamin that includes:

Most pregnant people dont get enough choline, so its important to include choline-rich foods like egg yolks in your diet or take a supplement that contains this vital nutrient.

Choline is important for your health and is essential for fetal brain development and placental function.

Some supplements also contain DHA, which is important for your babys brain tissue growth and function especially during the third trimester.

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Why Is Folic Acid So Important

Folic acid is a form of folate that protects your unborn baby against serious birth defects, such as spina bifida – a neural tube defect which affects spinal development. It will help keep you healthy in the run up to and during pregnancy and a fact thats not known to many it can help with healthy sperm quality and improves male fertility too.

Its always good to have a diet high in folate, but as this is such an important pregnancy vitamin, doctors and midwives advise against relying on foods as a substitute for a Folic Acid supplement. The recommended dose for pregnant women is 400 mcg a day

Some of the best folate-rich foods include:

  • Oranges
  • Green vegetables – especially dark, leafy ones, such as brussel sprouts, kale, broccoli, and spring greens

Try eating foods fortified with folate. These include:

  • Breakfast cereals
  • Some pasta

And hot of the press: the government has just announced that all white bread will start to be fortified with Folic Acid too!

Do You Need Vitamin E Supplements During Pregnancy

This fat-soluble vitamin E is involved in a variety of roles such as genetic expression and immunity function.While vitamin E is essential for good health, it is not suggested that mom use it as a supplement.

Because extra vitamin E supplementation has not been proven to benefit moms or babies. It may instead raise the risk of stomach discomfort and premature rupture of the amniotic sack.

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Figure Out If You Can Stomach It

Once you choose your prenatal vitamin, you might find you have a tough time stomaching it. The most common reasons :

  • If you have trouble swallowing it, look for a pill with a slicker coating. You may want to consider a pill sans calcium, since they tend to be smaller . If you do, be sure to talk to your practitioner to be sure you get enough of this essential mineral in other ways. You might also want to try a chewable or liquid prenatal vitamin .
  • If your prenatal vitamin makes you feel nauseous, try taking your vitamin with a meal or snack or right before you go to bed. Still having trouble? Ask your doctor to recommend a different brand that you may be able to stomach better or one with more B6, which can curb nausea and morning sickness.
  • If youve got constipation, diarrhea or gas, it could be the extra iron in your pill. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids, eat fiber-rich foods and include regular physical activity in your daily routine. If this doesnt relieve your stomach woes, talk to your doctor about alternatives .

What Are Vitamins And Supplements

My Prenatal Vitamins | Vitamins and Minerals during Pregnancy Supplements

Your body needs a variety of nutrients for good health: vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, fats and fibre.

Vitamins are organic compounds needed in small amounts that your body can’t make for itself. Apart from vitamin D, which your skin makes from sunlight, most of the vitamins you need come from food.

Dietary supplements are complementary medicines which contain nutrients that may fill a deficiency in your diet. Examples include multivitamins, single minerals, fish oil capsules and herbal supplements.

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Advising On The Upper Limits Of Folic Acid Supplementation

High doses of folic acid can hide signs of vitamin B12 deficiency. They can also bring on or accelerate neurological complications associated with B12 deficiency . As well, women who have low vitamin B12 status are at higher risk for NTD . The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in women of childbearing age is considered very low . However, some studies suggest that more women in this life stage group may have low vitamin B12 status than expected . Women who do not or infrequently consume foods of animal origin and do not take a vitamin B12 containing supplement are most likely to have deficient or marginal vitamin B12 status .

Emerging data also suggest there may be additional health risks associated with taking folic acid, including the development of colon cancer when preneoplastic cells are present . It is important that health care professionals do not advise higher doses of folic acid than is recommended in this document, unless duly warranted.

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What Vitamins To Take During Pregnancy

Being a mother is a matter of pride for all the women of the world.No one wants her or her child to face any difficulty in this precious time. In this precious time, no woman wants to take any risk regarding her and her childrens health. During pregnancy, the mother is the only source who provides all the needed vitamins and nutrients to their child. So, for all pregnant ladies, it is very important to know what vitamins to take during pregnancy.

When a mother gets all the necessary nutrients and vitamins during pregnancy then the child will be able to take them, as a result, a healthy baby will come into the world. The vitamins which are taken during pregnancy are called prenatal vitamins.

Taking prenatal vitamins and a nutritious diet throughout pregnancy will help you get all the required nutrients for you and your baby. This will keep both mother and baby healthy.

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What Vitamins And Supplements Should I Take During Pregnancy

  • What Vitamins and Supplements Should I Take During Pregnancy? Center
  • Eating a well-balanced diet is important during your pregnancy. What you eat and drink has an impact on your baby and your body. Learn about pregnancyvitamins and supplements you should take to help ensure you have a healthy pregnancy and baby.

    Prenatal Vitamins Supplement Not Replace A Balanced Diet

    The Best Prenatal Vitamins of 2020  ReviewThis

    Any balanced diet will contain plenty of vitamins and minerals, but you should still take a prenatal vitamin to make sure that you are getting enough of the nutrients your body and your baby needs. Additionally, since prenatal vitamins are formulated with the idea that the person taking them is eating a healthy diet, there is no need to seek out additional vitamin supplements in any form, be it a pill, diet drink, or fortified smoothie. Be sure to let your doctor know if you use any of these products so you can be certain you are not getting too much of a good thing.

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