The prenatal and postnatal periods are crucial for the baby’s health. During these periods, the mother uses a large chunk of her nutrient store to aid her baby’s growth and development. Due to the increased and continuous demand for nutrients, many moms take vitamin supplements. But why wait until you’re pregnant to start supplementing?
Preparing for pregnancy shouldn’t always involve buying baby clothes and creating a nursery nook in your home. Instead, you can start taking prenatal supplements to store up all the nutrients that will be vital for your baby. Moreover, many experts suggest that the right combination of fertility vitamins can significantly boost your chances of conception.
Either way, as https://motherhoodtips.com/ website says, including your vitamin supplements early on, will benefit you and your embryo in the long run. Here’s why preparing for pregnancy with suitable vitamins is essential:
Why taking vitamin supplements before pregnancy is important
Nowadays, raising a child is a difficult decision that many mothers-to-be consider carefully. Indeed, giving birth to a new family member can be financially demanding. However, what’s most burdening is carrying the little fetus for nine months.
Since the baby gets all the nutrients directly from the mother, it’s easy to become deficient in crucial vitamins and minerals. Draining your body of natural resources can cause various symptoms like nausea, exhaustion, cramps, and mood swings. That’s when prenatal vitamins come in handy.
Typically, keeping a healthy diet can help maintain a decent balance of nutrients in your body. However, they are often insufficient to meet the high demand. Thanks to prenatal vitamins, your body can have enough to nourish both you and your baby. Moreover, building a reserve will be much easier if you start before the baby is in the plans. Here are the most notable reasons why taking vitamin supplements before pregnancy is an excellent idea:
- Eggs are developed 90 days before their release, and supplying your body with quality nutrients is vital to a healthy pregnancy.
- Prenatal vitamins are the perfect addition to the everyday diet.
- Taking prenatal vitamins can help maintain the risk of preterm birth to a minimum.
- Folate in prenatal supplements can significantly improve fetal development, as it’s crucial for developing the baby’s neural tube.
- Prenatal vitamins contain DHA, a type of Omega-3 fatty acid that boost a baby’s health once during pregnancy. Moreover, it improves the cervical mucus quality, helps promote an ideal balance of reproductive hormones, and improves egg quality.
- Taking prenatal vitamins before conception can reduce possible defects in fetal development, such as neural tube defects, heart defects, and others.
- Taking supplements can help build up adequate iron stores, the demand for which is doubled during pregnancy. Having enough iron in the body contributes to the sufficient production of hemoglobin, which prevents anemia.
- Vitamin D is essential for both the mother and baby, especially during the winter season. The supplement is crucial for robust bone development and prevents miscarriages in the first trimester.
What are the Best Vitamin Supplements to Take Before Pregnancy?
When planning for pregnancy, there isn’t a universal formula for what supplements are best for you. In most cases, it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider or nutritional specialist to help you find out the optimal combination. Still, knowing what your baby will need can give you a hint at what you should store in your body. Here’s a list of some of the essential vitamin supplements to take before pregnancy:
Folic Acid
Undoubtedly, folic acid is one of the essential components of every prenatal supplement. This vitamin is vital for the baby’s neural development and helps prevent congenital disabilities. Typically, women preparing for pregnancy should take at least 400 micrograms of folic acid as a daily supplement.
Iron
Iron is another essential prenatal vitamin. It’s primarily responsible for the red blood cells in every person’s body called hemoglobin. In this regard, iron is crucial for both the baby and the mother because it ensures adequate oxygen-carrying capacity. Moreover, it helps prevent anemic symptoms that may deteriorate the mother’s health. Since iron requirements double during pregnancy, taking a vitamin supplement can help meet the increased demand.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial in the baby’s brain and eye development. Moreover, experts have proven its role in reducing the risk of preterm labor and the effects of postpartum depression. Usually, pregnant women must get at least 200 milligrams of DHA per day, which can come from fatty fish or prenatal supplements.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is another essential vitamin to build up in your body when preparing for pregnancy. Typically, it’s responsible for the baby’s teeth and bone development, but it also provides proper immunity. On the other hand, adequate levels during pregnancy lower the risk of preterm birth, gestational diabetes, and hypertension. While it can be acquired through sunlight and food, taking prenatal supplements with Vitamin D is beneficial, especially in winter.
Vitamin B12
Similar to iron, Vitamin B12 takes part in the formation of red blood cells. Besides, it’s essential for adequately developing the baby’s nervous system while also benefitting the mother. Typically, Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause fatigue, weakness, constipation, and other symptoms. That’s why pregnant women are recommended meat, eggs, fish, and dairy products in their diet to ensure proper B12 intake. Of course, taking it with your prenatal vitamins is always beneficial for you and your baby.
Probiotics
Probiotics may sound more like a supplement for general intake. Still, they play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy immune system, digestion, and nutrient absorption. All these factors are vital for the mother and the developing fetus. Since probiotics are responsible for supporting good bacteria in the gut, they can be passed to the baby during birth and breastfeeding. That way, they can help establish a healthy gut microbiome in the newborn.
Are there any risks associated with taking prenatal vitamins while not pregnant?
Prenatal vitamins and supplements are generally harmless and cannot cause detrimental side effects to the mother or the baby. Still, you may consider holding off on them if you’re not pregnant. In rare cases, you may experience short-term side effects of too much iron, like constipation and nausea. Therefore, it’s best to consult with your healthcare provider before you start taking prenatal supplements.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, preparing for pregnancy is a crucial step for expecting mothers. In this regard, many experts suggest focusing on taking vitamin supplements. As the nutrient demand doubles during pregnancy, prenatal supplements help build up an adequate store for both the mother and the baby. Ultimately, doing so can significantly impact them by boosting immunity, promoting healthy pregnancy, and preventing birth defects.
