Preparing for Baby: The Benefits of a Prenatal Vitamin

There’s a lot to figure out when you find out you are pregnant. From what to do, to what to eat, to how often to see your health care professional, you may have lots of questions about what happens next.

What’s amazing is that several parts of your body change as soon as you become pregnant to best support the growing fetus. Your body works hard to ensure the baby gets everything it needs. It can be reassuring to know that your body knows what to do and how to grow a whole new person!

While your body is working hard, it’s important to make sure that you are getting all the nutrition you need. Your body needs extra nutrients to not only grow the baby but still take care of you! Many health care professionals recommend taking prenatal multivitamins to support your nutrient intake every day.

What are prenatal vitamins?

Prenatal vitamins are specially crafted multivitamins that are designed to help support the nutrient needs of pregnancy. Several essential nutrients are important when you are pregnant. Some of the vitamins in a prenatal vitamin include:

Folate

Folate (sometimes known as folic acid) is key in the creation of DNA and is needed for cells to divide, so is especially important during pregnancy or for women of childbearing age.* Folate is found in fruit and vegetables (especially those dark leafy greens!), nuts, beans, seafood, and enriched breakfast cereals and grains.

DHA Omega-3

DHA is short for Docosahexaenoic acid, one of the essential omega-3 fatty acids . DHA is found in the brain and eyes, and supports mom and baby’s overall health and wellbeing.* You can find DHA in oily fish like salmon, trout and sardines. However, some fish can be contaminated with mercury and it is important to limit mercury if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Talk to your health care provider about how much and which fish are right for you. If you would like to learn more, check out the FDA advice on eating fish.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D supports bone, muscle and immune health.* Your body can make vitamin D from the sun, however, it can be difficult to get enough from the sun during the winter, cloudy weather, or if you wear sunscreen. If you aren’t able to get vitamin D from the sun, you can also find vitamin D in some foods. Some of these include fatty fish, beef liver, egg yolks, cheese, and some mushrooms. Cow’s milk and some plant-based milks are also fortified with vitamin D.

Should I take a prenatal supplement?

As always, your prenatal health care professional is the best person to ask about what prenatal supplements you should take during your pregnancy. However, in general, prenatal vitamins are suggested for most women during their pregnancy. Many providers suggest that you start taking a prenatal multivitamin if you are trying to become pregnant because it’s common to not know that you are pregnant for the first few weeks of your pregnancy. This way you can be certain that you have the nutrition your body needs early in the pregnancy.

Many women are nauseous during their pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. Taking a regular prenatal multivitamin can help fill in some of the nutrient gaps that happen, even if you are dealing with morning sickness (that is often not just in the mornings!).

Depending on your situation and if you are breastfeeding, your health care professional may also recommend that you continue taking your prenatal multivitamins after you’ve delivered the baby. As you recover from the pregnancy and delivery, taking the prenatal helps support your nutrient intake every day.

I hate swallowing pills, is there a prenatal gummy?

Yes! If you hate swallowing pills, you may want to try the delicious vitafusion PreNatal gummy vitamin with folate and DHA.

Vitafusion PreNatal includes many essential nutrients like folate, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and vitamin E and because there’s no iron, they are easy on the stomach. These prenatal vitamins also have 50mg of DHA in every 2-gummy serving. The delicious raspberry lemonade flavor makes it a flavorful way to take your prenatal.

Promoting good nutrition in your pregnancy

Pregnancy is a special and important time in your life. Supporting your pregnancy with a prenatal vitamin can be a great way to support your body’s and baby’s needs. Speak with your health care professional about what is best for you and your pregnancy.

Brought to you by the vitafusion nutrition™ experts.