How to Choose the Best Prenatal Vitamin

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Taking prenatal vitamins before and during a pregnancy is one of the most important things a mother to be can do to help ensure the good health of her baby. Choosing the right supplements can be tricky, with the various selections and products out there. Key things to remember are: labels, dissolving ability and easiness of swallowing. Shopping around for the right prenatal vitamin for you may take some time but it will be worth it to ensure that your baby receives the nutrients and care it deserves while in the womb.
Finding out you're pregnant is a joyous occasion for all. Welcoming a baby into the world can be a magical time for you and your family. Preparing for the baby's arrival takes plenty of planning and detail. Even more importantly, preparing your body for the care and nurturing your baby deserves, takes even more planning and detail. One of the first things to do as a pregnant woman to take care of your baby is to begin taking prenatal vitamins, vitamin supplements specially designed for the health of a growing baby. Recommended by many doctors, small sized supplements are essential to having a healthy and happy baby. Here are some tips to choosing the best supplements for you and your baby.
Take a Small Sized Prenatal Vitamin During Preconception
Though it's important to provide your baby with the vitamins it needs while in the womb, preparing your body ahead of time is also beneficial. Taking small prenatal vitamins before you are actually pregnant will guarantee that your body has all the vitamins you baby will need when conceived. These specially formulated multivitamins also aid women in reducing the number of episodes of vomiting and nausea during the first trimester.
Read the Label Before Buying Prenatal Vitamins
Make sure to shop for small multivitamins that contain at least 400 mg of folic acid. Folic acid is known to reduce the chances that your baby will develop defects, such as spina bifida. Iron is also important in the health of you and your baby. Many prenatal multivitamins will usually have about 30 to 48 mg's of iron. Aside from iron, calcium is another important nutrient every woman should be taking plenty of, whether pregnant or not. The recommended dose is 1,000 mg and should be supplied in any high quality vitamin supplements.
Make Sure Your Stomach Can Handle Your Prenatal Vitamins
Most multivitamins, including prenatal vitamins, are very laege and can prove difficult to swallow. Make sure you shop around for small sized multivitamins with a slick coating that will go down easier. Chewable supplements also come in smaller packages as do those without calcium since calcium is a nutrient that takes up a lot of space.
Choose a Dissolving Prenatal Vitamin
Prenatal vitamins that do not dissolve quickly in your stomach can sometimes cause your body to lose out on important nutrients. To test a supplements ability to dissolve, place the vitamin in a half cup of vinegar and stir for about five minutes. Within 30 minutes, it should be either dissolved or separated into tiny particles.
The most important thing to remember when choosing supplements is to not overload on vitamin supplements. Stay with the recommended dosage unless your doctor recommends the intake of additional multivitamins or nutritional supplements. The health of you and your baby is at stake and you want to take care so your baby is happy and healthy.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

1 comment:

  1. Great post! Choosing vitamins to take is important throughout your life; however during pregnancy it can have a significant impact on the health of your child.
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