How Supplements are Important During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a transformative experience that requires proper nutrition to promote the mother's health and the perfect development of the baby.

While a well-balanced diet lays the foundation of a healthier pregnancy, pregnancy supplements fill in the dietary gap. This blog will explore the reasons that make prenatal supplements crucial during pregnancy. Moreover, we will also mention the best prenatal vitamin for you to try.

Need for Prenatal Supplements During Pregnancy

Pregnancy raises a woman's nutritional requirements to ensure the proper growth and development of the fetus she carries within herself and to maintain her health. Some nutrients are very significant, which can be challenging to acquire from food alone. Prenatal supplements during pregnancy fill in those nutritional gaps so that the mother as well as the baby can receive essential nourishment.

Best Pregnancy Supplements to Consider

Pregnancy is not just a physiological condition but also puts great bodily demands on women. Thus, you need to take prenatal vitamins with your diet to provide proper nourishment to you and your baby. Here is a comprehensive view of the best pregnancy supplements for you to consider:

1. Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal supplements provide the required nutrition that your body needs during pregnancy. They are packed with essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals compared to regular multivitamins.

Key Ingredients:

Folic Acid (Vitamin B9): Folic Acid prevents birth defects that involve the brain and spinal cord. You should take around 400-800 mg of folic acid daily. You can also go for prenatal vitamins with folic acid to fill the nutritional gap.

Iron: Iron helps to maintain the increased blood volume with no danger of developing anemia during pregnancy. You should take around twenty-seven milligrams daily.

Calcium: Calcium is one of the most required pregnancy nutrients because it helps with the improvement of the bones and teeth of the baby.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D contributes to enhanced absorption of calcium and maintains bone health. You should take around 600 IU of Vitamin D during pregnancy.

Iodine: Iodine is essential for the proper functioning of the thyroid and the development of the baby's brain. You should take around 220 micrograms daily.

Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 is involved in the formation of red blood cells and the health of the nervous system. You should take around 2.6 micrograms daily.

2. DHA Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplement

DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid and supports the proper development of the brain and eyes. DHA supplements during pregnancy reduce the risks of pregnancy complications like premature birth and increase the cardiovascular health of the mother. DHA prenatal vitamins also help optimally develop your child's brain and eyes. You can achieve it by consuming fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines. However, another rich source of DHA, to be precise, a vegetarian one, is from algae-based pregnancy supplements.

3. Iron Supplement

Iron is also an essential nutrient needed by expectant mamas when she is pregnant as it helps boost hemoglobin production, that protein of red blood cells that delivers oxygen throughout the body. Rich and natural sources of iron are red meat, poultry, fish, lentils, beans, spinach, and iron prenatal vitamins. As per experts, the recommended daily intake of iron for pregnant women is around 27 milligrams daily. Proper iron consumption supports the prevention of iron deficiency anemia, helps in maintaining the extra blood volume during pregnancy, and minimizes the risk of preterm delivery and delivery with low birth weight.

4. Calcium

Calcium is critical for the development of bones and teeth, and for maintaining your bone health. Rich sources of calcium in pregnant women include dairy products, like milk, cheese, and yogurt; leafy green vegetables, like kale and broccoli; and fortified food items. Adequate calcium supports fetal development of bones and teeth, prevents bone loss in the mother, and thereby decreases the risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

5. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is one of the fat-soluble vitamins that serve to enhance the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the body. A primary source includes sunlight exposure, while others are fatty fish, fortified dairy products, egg yolks, and vitamin D supplements. Adequate vitamin intake is crucial for you and your baby during pregnancy.

6. Folic Acid

Folic acid is a B vitamin critical in DNA synthesis and cell division. It plays a vital role in preventing neural tube defects. It also facilitates the growth and development of a baby's brain and spinal cord when the fetus is developing. Consuming the best folic acid in pregnancy decreases the risk of other congenital anomalies. As per experts, you should consume pregnancy supplements along with foods packed with folic acid to enable the healthy growth and development of your babies.

7. Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 contributes to the production of red blood cells and the proper functioning of the nervous system. If adequately supplied, it might help me prevent megaloblastic anemia during pregnancy and promote the normal development of the fetal brain and nervous system. Thus, Vitamin B12 prenatal supplementation is crucial for maternal health, particularly for vegetarians and vegans, whose dietary sources are limited and are thus likely to suffer a deficiency.

Pregnancy Supplements For the First Trimester

The first trimester is an important phase of rapid growth and fetal formation. It is during this stage that folic acid intake must be ensured sufficiently to prevent neural tube defects and support general well-being among mothers. Prenatal vitamins containing folic acid, besides a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, are necessary for ensuring the development and proper health of both mother and baby during early pregnancy.

Important Things to Remind Yourself of in the First Trimester

Talk to Your Doctor: Since every pregnancy is different, the best time to talk to your healthcare provider about taking pregnancy supplements is before you start them. They can help you determine which prenatal vitamins are appropriate for your pregnancy-related needs.

Quality of Supplements: Be sure to find a high-quality prenatal supplement from a well-known brand that pays attention to detail about the quality they use. An ideal pregnancy supplement provider should have a USP or NSF certification, which gives comfort knowing the product will be reliable and safe for consumption.

Dietary Intake: Whenever possible, try to get nutrients from food sources first.

Trimacare Pregnancy Supplement, Way to a Healthy Pregnancy

Trimacare prenatal vitamins offer three-stage nutrition specially designed for pregnancy. Trimacare prenatal tablet is presented in three different sets, as the nutritional requirements vary according to the different trimesters. The pregnancy supplement is an exclusive brand of prenatal multivitamins and is enriched with over 20 vital nutrients that are very important during the pregnancy period, such as Folate, Iron, Calcium, omega-3s, Iodine, and Zinc.

Trimacare prenatal vitamins for pregnant women are specially prepared by the experts, following the Multi-Micronutrients (MMN) paradigm.

Conclusion

Pregnancy supplements support both maternal and fetal health when dietary intake is inadequate. You would need prenatal vitamins under your doctor's guidance, for instance, to meet the increased nutritional demand of pregnancy. This means that you are setting a good foundation for a healthy pregnancy and the baby's well-being, so have a proactive approach to your nutrition for a healthy pregnancy.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why do women need prenatal vitamins when they are pregnant?

Pregnancy increases the nutritional needs of a woman so that there will be optimal growth of the fetus and preservation of maternal health. Prenatal vitamins can complement what the diet cannot provide to ensure the nutrition of the woman during pregnancy.

2. What is folic acid?

Folic acid, or vitamin B9, helps prevent some types of brain and spinal defects at birth. A pregnant woman is encouraged to take 400-800 micrograms of folic acid a day.

3. How do I know I am selecting a high-quality prenatal supplement?

Third-party tested for quality and safety. Consult your healthcare provider for a recommendation.

4. What is the function of vitamin B12 during pregnancy?

Vitamin B12 contributes to the production of red blood cells and helps maintain the nervous system. The recommended daily intake in pregnancy is 2.6 micrograms.

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