Thursday, April 28, 2011

Unexpected Pregnancy & Prenatal Vitamins

Are prenatal vitamins really necessary?

Yes. It's hard to get all the nutrients you and your baby need, even if your diet is close to perfect and you eat a broad range of foods, including meat, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes.

Most women can benefit from taking a prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement. Think of it as an insurance policy to make sure you're getting the right amount of certain crucial nutrients during pregnancy.  If you do not provide your body the nutrients it needs to develop the baby, then your body will take your nutrients needed to maintain your health and give it to the baby.

Taking a prenatal vitamin is even more important for women with certain diets and dietary restrictions, health issues, or pregnancy complications. This includes women who:

•Are vegetarians or vegans
•Are lactose-intolerant or have other food intolerances
•Smoke or abuse other substances
•Have certain blood disorders
•Have certain chronic diseases
•Have had gastric bypass surgery
•Are having twins or higher multiples

What's in a prenatal supplement that I can't get from food?

If you're a stickler for nutrition, you may already be doing a pretty good job of getting what you need. But three crucial nutrients, folic acid and iron, are always included in prenatal vitamins because most pregnant women don't get enough of them from food alone:

Folic acid

Getting enough of this B vitamin can reduce your baby's risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly by 50 to 70 percent. Folic acid may also reduce the risk of other defects, such as cleft lip, cleft palate, and certain heart defects. Taking folic acid may even lower your risk of preeclampsia.

Your body absorbs the synthetic version of folic acid better than the natural one found in food, so even if you eat a balanced diet, a supplement is strongly recommended.

Iron

Most moms-to-be don't get enough of this mineral in their diet to meet their body's increased need during pregnancy, which can lead to iron-deficiency anemia. Avoiding iron-deficiency anemia can cut your risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight, and infant mortality.

Omega-3

If a pregnant woman would like the benefits of omega-3 for their unborn baby but does not want to eat fish taking omega-3 supplements while pregnant is a great option.

Additionally taking omega-3 supplements while pregnant can aid in the child being less hyperactive while growing up. Also a child who is hyperactive who takes a DHA/omega-3 supplement will likely receive benefits from the DHA/omega-3 supplement, relieving some of the hyperactivity.

http://email.babycenter.com/servlet/cc6?IHIPJQASSDQTVuHtpkHOxguJJoQhjnVaVSRVmkLjXpKVT3Fzg4oPVXLX

Christian Child Placement Service
http://www.adoptnewmexico.org/
1-800-553-2229 (BABY) ex.14
e-mail: adopt@nmcch.org

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