Prenatal Vitamins & the Pregnant Mother to Be

Every pregnant mother-to-be wants a healthy baby, and a comfortable and worry-free pregnancy and delivery — and prenatal vitamins can help.

Several vitamins are commonly low during pregnancy and have been connected to low birth weight, birth defects, and higher risks of miscarriage or premature birth. Some of these vitamins and minerals also protect the pregnant mother-to-be from toxemia, anemia, leg cramps, insomnia and loss of bone density.

Ensure you get enough of these vitamins through your diet and / or pre-natal supplements by checking with your doctor.

Two vitamins are worth special mention, because rather than worrying about not getting enough, you need to be careful that you are not getting too much.

Vitamin A should be taken as a beta carotene to avoid too high a dose. Birth defects have increased when over 10,000 UI of vitamin A was taken as a supplement during pregnancy.

Vitamin D is needed for bone and teeth formation, but it is known to be toxic in high doses.

Talk to your doctor about these issues when discussing whether you should be taking a prenatal vitamin and the best kind to choose.

The B Vitamins and Pregnancy

The B Vitamins, especially B2 and B6, B1 and folate (folic acid), are important vitamins for women, and are usually low in pregnancy.

Insufficient levels of folate are linked to neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly, and the government mandates the addition of folate to many foods, including breads, pastas, cornmeal, rice and other grains, and flour.

Women of childbearing age are urged to take extra folic acid as a supplement, because folate needs to be present at a sufficient level within a few weeks of conception in order to be most effective in reducing the risk of birth defects.

Vitamin E and Pregnancy

For the pregnant mother to be, the proper amount of Vitamin E is especially important. When vitamin E is too low, there is increased risk of miscarriage, premature and low birth-weight babies, and toxemia. Check with your doctor about how much vitamin E you should be getting, and whether you should get it from a prenatal vitamin supplement.

Substances to Avoid During Pregnancy

Pregnant moms-to-be are generally aware of risks to their fetus, but just to hammer it home, avoid:

Alcohol
Smoking and second-hand smoke
Sugar, fried foods and junk food
Caffeine (in coffee, coke, chocolate, black tea and some medications)
Fish
Peanuts (although almonds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are excellent snack foods with protein and important minerals)

(There are also many environmental pollutants and toxins a pregnant mother to be should avoid, cosmetics being one, but that is for another website.)

Be sure to check Boost Daily Vitamins sections on Vitamins and Minerals and the Food Guide Pyramid to find out more about what the different benefits of vitamins and minerals, why you need them, and where to get them.

A healthy balanced diet with the right mix of vitamins and other nutrients, possibly supplemented with a prenatal vitamin, exercise, and adequate rest are essential ingredients for the health of both the pregnant mother- to-be and her baby.

The book called Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy is a must read for the pregnant mother-to-be.