
You are expecting! You are so excited and want to provide the best nutrients and help for your new baby. Eating healthy nutrition can be very difficult, especially if you are constantly sick and nauseous. This is where prenatal vitamins can help you and your baby get the nutrients you both need. Prenatal vitamins can also help prepare your body for pregnancy. They are made to help fill in the gap when it comes to your nutritional needs. It also fills in the gaps in minerals, and vitamins that we are deficient in when it comes to growing a baby and recovering from birth.
What is in Prenatal Vitamins?
Here is a list from Mama Natural about the different vitamins and minerals that are in your prenatal vitamins, and how each of them can help you in our motherhood journey.
- Vitamin A: Supports eye and brain development, respiratory development
- Thiamin (Vitamin B1): Supports the nervous system, supports the baby’s brain development
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): Supports healthy eyes and skin
- Niacin (Vitamin B3): Supports the digestive, integumentary, and nervous systems
- Pantothenic (Vitamin B5): Helps to create hormones and may ease leg cramps
- Vitamin B6: Helps form red blood cells and may help with morning sickness
- Biotin (Vitamin B7): Works with other B vitamins to help release energy from food
- Folate/ Folic Acid (Vitamin B9): Prevents neural tube defects and Spina Bifida in baby
- Vitamin B12: Promotes blood formation and helps prevent birth defects that affect the spine and central nervous system
- Vitamin C: Helps your body absorb iron and protects against the effects of stress
- Vitamin D: Helps strengthen bones and teeth, plus helps your body utilize calcium and phosphorus
- Vitamin E: Promotes overall wellness and metabolism, plus may help reduce miscarriages
- Vitamin K: Supports healthy bone formation, blood clotting, and healing
- Calcium: Supports bone development
- Copper: Plays a role in iron metabolism and supports blood health
- Iron: Helps the blood carry oxygen
- Iodine: Supports healthy thyroid function, metabolism, fetal growth, and hearing
- Magnesium: Supports healthy blood pressure and healthy birth weight
- Zinc: Supports immune, nerve, and muscle function
What are the Benefits of Prenatal Vitamins?
Here are few of the many benefits that can come from taking prenatal vitamins during and after your pregnancy:
- Prevents nutrient depletion in mama
- Reduces risk of deficiency
- Grows healthy hair and skin
- Supports pregnancy comfort during nausea and fatigue
- Enhances mood stability
- Prepares body for breastfeeding
- Supports you in your postpartum recovery
When Should I Take Prenatal Vitamins?
There isn’t a specific time when you should take them, but here are some tips to help you:
- Take them before you try to conceive, this can help prepare your body for pregnancy and provide your baby with the best start.
- Take them when you usually take your vitamins, rather that is first thing in the morning or right before bed.
- If it is very hard to take them with you have the gag-reflux, or you are feeling nauseous. Take them with a meal. Having them on an empty stomach can create a feeling of more nausea or increase your gag reflux.
- Put them somewhere where you can see them everyday, sometimes it can be easy to forget to take them due to a foggy brain and/or exhaustion.
Prenatal vitamins are the best thing you can do to prepare for pregnancy, provide nutrition for you and baby, and help you recover and prepare for postpartum.
Trying to find the right prenatal vitamin for you body? Check out Mama Natural’s recommendations!
“What Are the Best Prenatal Vitamins for You?“
Here at The Utah Birth Place, we can help you find a midwife here in Utah County that can lead you to the best care for you and your baby. Take our questionnaire today and we will refer you to the best midwives for your care and birth.
Reference/Resource
What Are the Best Prenatal Vitamins for You?
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How to Prepare for Your Postpartum Care – The Utah Birth Place
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