Vitamins and Supplements During Pregnancy
By: A.B. Berg
It is not at all surprising that women need a lot of extra vitamins while pregnant. Their bodies have to provide vitamins for two people instead of just one. The developing baby needs a lot of nutrients for proper growth and development and without these the baby will not develop properly. The mother and fetus alike can have problems if the mother does not replace the needed vitamins. It is nearly impossible for the mother to get all the required nutrients from eating alone, as she would need to be eating all day long.
Pregnant women need an increase especially in folic acid, iron, and calcium for both themselves and the fetus. Another important vitamin (that is typically not found in prenatal vitamins) is protein. Folic Acid is necessary for both the mother and the unborn baby because it helps maintain the placenta and prevents several birth defects (including serious birth defects of the spinal cord and brain). Iron is crucial for the mother to take as it helps the blood carry oxygen. Calcium is important for strong bones, teeth, and healthy red blood cells. Protein is the building block of the human body, also helps in stimulating the production of amino acids.
Below is a list of the recommended prenatal vitamins as recommended for pregnancy by Web MD to start you on the right track.
- 4,000 and 5,000 IU (international units) of vitamin A
- 800 and 1,000 mcg (1 mg) of folic acid
- 400 IU of vitamin D
- 200 to 300 mg of calcium
- 70 mg of vitamin C
- 1.5 mg of thiamine
- 1.6 mg of riboflavin
- 2.6 mg of pyridoxine
- 17 mg of niacin amide
- 2.2 mcg of vitamin B-12
- 10 mg of vitamin E
- 15 mg of zinc
- 30 mg of iron
Craving more? Check out our diet plan.