One of the best things you can do for your-baby-to-be is provide a healthy start with proper nutrients. Prenatal vitamins are a vital part of pregnancy and experts recommend beginning them about three months before conception. This is important because the baby’s neural tube, which becomes the brain and spinal cord, develops during the first month of pregnancy before most women even know they’re pregnant.

Just like a multivitamin, the prenatal vitamins are not a substitute for proper nutrient, but fills the gaps from our diet and compensates for the nutrient needs that are different throughout pregnancy; therefore, it is important to take a prenatal vitamin and not merely a multivitamin.

During pregnancy it is especially important to get more folic acid, calcium and iron; as well as DHA and EPA (commonly found in fish oil). DHA and EPA are recent additions on the list due to the vast amount of research that has shown the numerous benefits of omega-3-fatty acids in fetal development, particularly the brain. Research also suggests that prenatal vitamins decrease the risk of low birth weight.

Prenatal Vitamins – Meeting Nutrient Needs

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s): these types of fats are needed for growth and development. An ever-increasing amount of research has revealed that these fatty acids are vital for fetal growth, brain development and have profound long-term effects on learning and behavior.
Two essential fatty acids (linolenic acid and alpha-linolenic acid) are mostly found in seeds and seed oils and in the green leaves of plants, and though they can be converted into other important EFA’s the process is slow and can leave one falling short of their needed requirements. Fatty fish is a great source; however, it is not a recommended for pregnant women because fish is known to contain high levels of environmental contaminants, therefore, supplementation is an ideal source to obtain the proper levels of DHA and EPA. While most prenatal vitamins are beginning to add DHA to their supplements, many still do not, therefore a separate supplement may be necessary.

Prenatal Vitamins – Minerals – building blocks of many body systems.

Calcium: is needed to build bones and teeth. During pregnancy, calcium can prevent the new mother from losing her own bone density as the fetus requires calcium for bone growth.
Iron: More iron than normal is needed during pregnancy because the body needs to produce more blood to take nutrients and oxygen to the fetus and iron is needed to make fetal blood. Iron supports the development of blood and muscle cells and prevents anemia. Some women may not have adequate stores of iron and particularly during the second half of pregnancy may need 30 mg a day to meet their needs.
Zinc: is essential for growth and development and it is necessary to consume about 50 percent more during pregnancy. Even a mild zinc deficiency can has been linked to complications in labor and delivery.

Prenatal Vitamins – Vitamins- vital to life!

Folic Acid (Folate) – is necessary for the development of the nervous system as well as other functions. Folic acid is especially important during the first four weeks of pregnancy when the neural tube is developing (this is why taking a prenatal prior to conception is vital, most women do not find out they are pregnant until after this initial growth period). The neural tube later becomes the spinal cord and without adequate folic acid the neural tube may not close and result in neural tube defects, which are serious abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord. Doctors recommend that all women who could potentially become pregnant take a vitamin containing 400 mcg of folate. The best supplements also contain vitamin B12 and do not exceed 400 mcg of folate because extra folate can mask a vitamin B12 deficiency and cause other complications.

Vitamin B12- is needed for normal cell division and protein synthesis and its need is only slightly elevated during pregnancy from 2.0 mcg to 2.2 mcg.

Vitamin D- your need for vitamin D is doubled during pregnancy because of its vital role in helping your body absorb calcium. It is especially important in the third trimester, when calcium demands increase.

A common initial problem that many women face with their prenatal vitamins is nausea; another is constipation typically attributed to iron intake.
If nausea is affecting you try taking your vitamin at a different time of day and preferably with a meal or hearty snack or chew gum after taking it.
If you are dealing with constipation be sure to drink a lot of water and increase fiber in your diet and if cleared by your healthcare practitioner- include some physical activity in your daily routine.

It is very important to give your baby the best start possible, so if you are planning on having a child it is vital that you begin your health regime with a good prenatal vitamin!