Are you thinking about adding a new member to your family? Congratulations on taking this huge step! But before you dive headfirst into the world of brand-new onesies and nursery decor, there's an important consideration to make: Are you prepared for what comes before pregnancy?
Preconception care is key to ensuring a successful pregnancy. This includes everything from diet and exercise to mental health and beyond. One crucial aspect of preconception prep that often gets overlooked, however, is the use of pre-pregnancy vitamins.
In this article, we'll explore the wonders of pre-pregnancy supplements and why they should be at the top of your preconception checklist!
What are Pre-Pregnancy Vitamins?
As their name suggests, pre-pregnancy vitamins are dietary supplements designed specifically for women who plan on becoming pregnant. These supplements contain vital nutrients such as folic acid, iron and calcium - all essential in supporting healthy fetal growth.
But here's where it can get a bit confusing: While any woman can take these vitamins regardless of whether she plans on getting pregnant someday or not, pre pregnancy supplements refer specifically to those taken by women during their reproductive years when trying to conceive.
Folic Acid
One particular vitamin that deserves special attention is folic acid — which has been linked repeatedly with reducing major birth defects affecting baby’s brain development such as spina bifida or neural tube defect (NTD) No joke –by taking folate/folic acid prior to conception helps prevent serious birth abnormalities Here are some things you probably didn't know about folic acid:
- Folate deficiency may cause megaloblastic anaemia , fatigue ,poor growth etc..
- Eggs rich in folic acids.
- 800 mcg/day reduces risks associated with NTDs by up-to 70%
- Many breakfast cereals and breads have folic acid added back to them
What are The Benefits of Pre-Pregnancy Vitamins?
Now that we've covered some basics, let's dive into the benefits!
They Support a Healthy Pregnancy: Taking pre-pregnancy supplements can help lay the foundation for a healthy pregnancy by ensuring you're getting enough essential nutrients before conception even takes place.
It's important because during early fetal development (even before most women know they're pregnant), many vital organs like the brain, spinal cord and heart develop. And these developments are dependent on having adequate amounts of key vitamins and minerals in your system Like an oil changeup or gear maintenance prior to driving – right blend is as critical They Help Prevent Birth Defects: As mentioned earlier,folic acid supplementation may reduce chances of suffering from serious birth defects known to affect brain,/spine etc.
But folate is just one example! Other nutrients such as iron(calcium too) can also play significant role here:Iron supplementation promotes oxygen transfer;supporting fetus growth Iron deficiency anaemia has been linked with low birth rate,birth weight./ infant mortality In short using suitable preconception vitamin blends reduces risks both long-term(chronic diseases);and acute(such as miscarriages)->sometimes due to genetic causes beyond anybody’s control
What Should You Look For In A Pre-Pregnancy Vitamin?
By now you might be convinced about why supplementing with pre-conception vitamins makes sense. But what should you look out for when shopping around? Here are some things to keep in mind:
Folate/Folic Acid Content: It's recommended that women try taking at least 400 mcg/day of folic acid before trying conceiving .This doubles up approx upto 800mcg after pregnancy detection.Start looking forward mini cadbury chocolates meltdowns while eating cornflakes every morning if that’s where folic acids added back to nowadays !
Iron Content: Iron is critical for supporting both mom and baby's health during pregnancy. Approximately pregnant women need between 27-30mg /day of iron especially in trimesters (rather difficult to extract from daily diet) so it's another nutrient worth watching out for! Only a healthcare professional can determine specific supplementation requirements based on your medical history, age, etc.
Do Pre-Pregnancy Vitamins Have Any Side Effects?
So are there any downsides to adding pre-conception supplements to your routine? Overall the risks seem likely low,such as some stomach upset or potential interactions with medicines Depending primarily on what you choose/ adhering label instructions thereby diminishing chances against complications
But remember – Prior consultation with a physician essential.Trained personnel can recommend a vitamin blend suited best per an individual personal preferences/saying e.g.those suffering already from conditions such as allergies should select discretionarily under guidance
Final Thoughts
When considering embarking on this incredible journey towards parenthood, don't forget: The road begins before conception!
Pre-pregnancy vitamins are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to prenatal care. Still,critical enough step-regardless private/public system/country/etc. Inundated by ads spouting false promises everywhere ,it’s important not settling for first product name googled/ marketed aggressively .By working closely along,the right nutritional steps taken factually as suggested provide path reassuring preparation long-term healthy development in babies ahead!!