Prenatal Vitamin Supplements
{flickr|100|campaign}
Prenatal vitamin supplements are what a girl can take on a daily basis to make sure that she is obtaining appropriate quantities of essential nutrients during pregnancy. It is important for a woman to discuss with her medical practitioner which prenatal supplements, if any, she should take and which she should avoid. It is essential that all prenatal vitamin supplements are only taken under the advisement of a medical professional. There are several prenatal vitamin supplements which can prove dangerous for a pregnant woman to adopt and she has to be especially cautious.
The most important point to think about when deciding which prenatal vitamin supplements to take is which one contains certain nutrients which are beneficial to the woman and her developing baby. The majority of adults do not want additional vitamins as they receive sufficient from a balanced diet but a pregnant woman often needs prenatal vitamin supplements, especially for folic acid and iron. However, it is vital that she ensures the prenatal vitamin supplements that she takes to offer one particular nutrient do not contain potentially harmful amounts of another.
One of the most toxic forms of prenatal vitamin that a pregnant woman has to be extremely cautious of is vitamin A. Because of this the best suited prenatal vitamins for pregnant women who require extra vitamin A are those which contain vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is really a nutrient that’s found in fruits and vegetables and is converted into vitamin A in the body. Prenatal vitamin supplements that contain vitamin A from animal products can cause birth defects when taken in high doses during pregnancy but beta-carotene is a much safer prenatal vitamin as it isn’t toxic in high doses.
It is essential that a girl discusses prenatal vitamin supplements with her health practitioner at her first prenatal check-up. They could examine her current dietary requirements and assess whether prenatal vitamin supplements are necessary to increase the quantity of nutrients that she has available for her baby. Often a doctor will recommend a pregnant woman takes a course of a folic acid vitamin supplement during the first trimester of her pregnancy. Folic acid may be the most commonly prescribed prenatal supplement for the months prior to becoming pregnant as well and it is vital for the health and growth of the baby, especially the brain functions. Iron is another prenatal vitamin supplement that is usually recommended to prevent the mother suffering from anaemia due to the demands the baby puts on her iron consumption.
