What are Prenatal Dietary Supplements?

Prenatal dietary supplements contain key nutrients that a woman needs before or during pregnancy. Women who are trying to conceive or are pregnant are often advised to use prenatal nutritional supplements. These contain vitamins and minerals required for healthy foetal development. Eating a balanced and healthy diet is always the best way to get the necessary vitamins and minerals.

Prenatal dietary supplements are not intended to replace a healthy diet. Still, they ensure you get the required nutrients recognized by the various health organizations such as American Dietetic Association for a healthy pregnancy. One should use prenatal vitamins together with a healthy and balanced diet. Doctors recommend taking prenatal dietary supplements as they help fill any nutritional gaps in your diet.

Prenatal dietary supplements mainly include folic acid, calcium, iron, and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). They also contain vitamins D, C, A, E, zinc, iodine, magnesium, copper, vitamin B12, and many more.

Prenatal dietary supplements are of two kinds: Over-The-Counter and Prescription Prenatal Vitamins. Many people prefer to get them with a prescription to ensure the correct usage & adequacy of the prenatal vitamins.

Health Products For facilitates soon-to-be-mothers, prenatal vitamin gummies, pills, capsules, chewable tablets, and soft gels. The consumer must avoid overdosing on prenatal vitamins; they may be detrimental to the foetus if taken in high doses.

Health Products For You offers a holistic collection of prenatal dietary supplements from established names in the industry. The Zahler Prenatal DHA Softgels and the DEVA Vegan Prenatal Multivitamin and Mineral Tablets are specifically manufactured to provide complete nourishment to the pregnant mom. These products contain the right amount of nutrients one needs for a happy and healthy gestation.

What is the best time to start Prenatal Supplements?

Ideally, the best time to start prenatal vitamins is before conception, at least three months before you plan to get pregnant.

The first few weeks of pregnancy are crucial for embryo development. Folic acid and other prenatal supplements can help reduce or prevent the risk of some congenital disabilities. If you are not already taking prenatal dietary supplements, start taking them as soon as you find out you are pregnant. You'll continue taking them throughout your pregnancy. Your doctor might also recommend you continue them after delivery, as they are good for lactation.

What do Prenatal Vitamins do?

Even though you are eating a healthy and balanced diet, you may not be getting the key nutrients required for a healthy pregnancy. When you are pregnant, your nutritional requirements are different from other times. Prenatal dietary supplements are manufactured to meet the nutritional needs of pregnant women.

Prenatal Vitamin Benefits

Prevent congenital birth defects in babies.
Supports the development of the baby’s brain and nervous system.
Offer complete nourishment to the pregnant woman.
Reduce the risk of preterm birth, stillbirth, and miscarriages.
Improves fertility.

Nutritional Needs During Pregnancy

If you plan to conceive or are already pregnant or breastfeeding, you will need prenatal vitamins to keep you and your baby healthy. Some nutrients are critically important for foetal development. These are -

Folic Acid

Folic acid supports your baby's brain and spinal cord development, and it is proven to be a crucial factor in preventing neural tube irregularities. Many women start taking prenatal nutrition after entering the reproductive age. It is because folic acid in prenatal vitamins significantly reduces or prevents neural tube disorders like spina bifida. The baby's neural tube, which will develop into the brain and spinal cord, develops in the first 28 days after conception. That could happen before the pregnancy is confirmed.

Iron

Iron supports the development of the placenta and fetus. Iron helps the body produce more red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the baby to grow healthy and strong. Iron also prevents you from developing anaemia.

Calcium

Calcium is an important nutrient during pregnancy. Your baby also needs calcium for strong bones and teeth and takes this mineral directly from your bones. The deficiency of calcium can cause decreased bone density and the risk of developing osteoporosis later in life.

Iodine

Iodine helps the development of your baby's brain and nervous system. It also regulates the baby's metabolism. Iodine is also essential for your healthy thyroid function during pregnancy. Iodine deficiency can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, deafness, and severe mental disability.

Besides these four key nutrients, evidence suggests that taking prenatal vitamins with DHA and choline is important. DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid aids in curbing the risk of preterm birth and have a baby with low birth weight. Choline helps in healthy brain growth. Many other nutrients are essential for pregnancy. Your healthcare provider will decide what other vitamins you require based on the circumstances.

How to overcome the side effects of Prenatal Vitamins?

Some prenatal vitamins have side effects. They can cause nausea or constipation. If you are experiencing those side effects, talk to your doctor to prescribe a different brand or type of vitamin. Your doctor or midwife will help you find a prenatal vitamin that works best for your body and help ease side effects. The iron in some prenatal vitamins may make you constipated. You can take measures to prevent constipation. That may include:

Drink lots of fluid
Eat high fibre diet
Exercise if your doctor feels it is safe for you
Ask your doctor about using a stool softener, if needed.

Note: Always discuss your concerns with your primary health care provider during routine prenatal visits.

Where to buy Prenatal Nutritional Supplements online?

We at HPFY offer prenatal dietary supplements which will take care of your diet needs during this delicate stage of pregnancy. These products are safe and tested and came from trusted makers like Zahler, Nutrition Now, and Rainbow Light. Shop with us and be assured of a healthy pregnancy outcome.