If you think getting pregnant is hard work, wait until you get to the prenatal stage. Pass on alcoholic beverages and your daily dose of caffeine. You need these essentials plus a truckload more patience because now everything can trigger vivid cravings.
But there's one thing that many women are not agreeing with during pregnancies- taking vitamins beyond their first trimesters. Some doctors and obstetricians prescribe regular doses of supplements throughout the next few months of carrying around that little human inside them.
Is it absurd or necessary? Let’s dive into some details about prenatal vitamins!
Preconception Vitamins
Before we go ahead let's have a quick intro to how prenatal vitamins can help before you conceive. Taking preconception vitamins may no longer be popular nor common in our generation, but they exist for a reason –like most things in life do so don't argue.
So last century! Yet while every adult will require different nutrients depending on their body make-up...Taking certain types of dietary supplements prevent possible birth defects since folic acid reduces your chances from down syndrome issues by 70%.
Plus, it will cost less time and energy compared to dealing with complications when pregnancy already set in.
Types of Supplements
Pregnant women would have ideas stocked up on their heads about getting 'all natural' whatever item they procure at health stores. We know what works as well-tea tree oil doesn’t cure an ear infection any better than exorcism cures depression (that was a joke).
Wellness starts within so despite common misconceptions; clean eating isn’t magic especially since certain illnesses won't occur from lacking standard nutrition—pregnant or not—our bodies all operate differently which makes recommending specific nutrient levels impossible without consulting an actual doctor like What To Expect vs Dr Mercola.
Here are several prenatal vitamins and their functions:
Folic Acid
The holy grail of prenatal supplements is folic acid, known as Vitamin B9 by some. It can be found in various food options like spinach which any mom would love integrating into her meals.
When it comes to fending off birth defects, this nutrient is key. A deficiency could lead to serious spine or brain disorders for your little one down the road or worse-miscarriage (Make sure you cross it out).
Iron
If fatigue has been bothering you even more than usual (since somehow pregnant women get never-ending exhaustion), chances are high that iron needs assessment since a lot of winded up moms have anemia in pregnancy; which makes muscles feel constant sorer than they already are from carrying added weight around everyday life with a baby growing inside them!
Regarding sources, red meat ain't always necessary–look what Popeye used- but there happens to be heme type iron available only through animal products their organ meats along with leafy green veggies without so much depriving your strength if veganism became part of the menu now.
Just don’t forget all types must be accompanied with avoidance on caffeinated beverages making you more tuckered right after!
We've established two important supplement types offered for expecting individuals really useful during preconception too; but nothing's perfect such examples here might pose concerns about how each person’s system ultimately deals with certain health nutrients—over consuming instead may happen easily—and interacting medications aren’t just something shown over commercials either alongside self-medicated remedies avoidance should topple the list likewise before careful intake implementations.
The Second & Third Trimesters – To take them again?
Most experts will encourage their female patients starting at least several months before trying-and continuing supplements throughout early gestation whenever possible (as we mentioned earlier) ultimately when reaching first trimester many misconceptions arise including let's drop prenatal vitamins immediately more so because they're just beginning to show off baby fats expanding that little bump!
Maybe you’re still experiencing pregnancy sickness and nausea after 12 weeks, coupled with new cravings for food richer in vitamin B6; yet when it comes to other supplements how long pregnant women should take them is not necessarily cut-and-dry.
Some of the key vitamins your OB-Gyn may recommend continuing:
Vitamin D
If living lacking full sun exposure (hello Ms. California-wannabes) or growing up outside near beaches in sunny places (we all wish!) with recent research suggesting upwards two-thirds of Americans experience vitamin deficiencies given today's realities especially people who stay indoors more under this pandemic—there’s a good chance you will likely always get prescribed taking Vitamin D supplements regardless of being pregnant or not.
This nutrient boosts bone health while also supporting the immune system’s functioning particularly vaccine effectiveness among present flu shots since it contains antimicrobial properties—not given on birthday cakes unfortunately.
Calcium
Calcium implants thriving growth during pregnancies resulting from building sturdy bones helping teething stages during early infancy likewise later developments often remaining important despite delivering premature birth risk reduction afterwards although requirements vary depending each mom-to-be as calcium over dosage could lead into kidney distress risks at worst scenario hence monitoring intake alongside supervised diet preferences before any self adjustments are allowed would be much safer practice towards these micronutrients than counting nutrients like calories on every meal studied by N.I.H .
Potential Risks And Complications
Despite knowing fetal benefits some find themselves distracted by absurd theories such as prenatal vitamins causing birth defects-lately circulating around social media platforms Time wasted. Better spent searching alternative information that will help assist proper motherhood preparation instead.
But there really is a marginal downside to taking additional multivitamins losing sleep over about—the result usually involved vomiting, constipation, diarrhea types along with gastric complications shouldn't be expected for example: imagine being bloated in the middle of an important meeting or going to a wedding you have dressed up nice and ready for—it can be supremely distracting.
That said, supplements like iron which could also trigger digestive disturbances-these conditions may improve by taking slight adjustments with dosage levels—if possible given mother health circumstances consulting with her doctor on when adjusting doses of supplement forms might start happening because—as I mentioned earlier- everyone’s system will vary!
Final Thoughts
After reading through here's hoping readers ends up walking away far more aware about prenatal vitamins-(if not that's surely your problem). But seriously speaking -prescription must-haves throughout gestation isn’t witchcraft as much as some people would love belittling benefits somehow beyond first trimesters—talk it out with your healthcare provider if any doubts come into play during pregnancy period since these medications really forward something good intended towards moms-to-be along upcoming family members.