There’s plenty of research that’s demonstrated a strong link between taking folic acid during pregnancy and preventing neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. “These key ingredients are needed specifically for spine, bone, brain and red blood cell development,” she says. During pregnancy, women need additional folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids to help support the growth and development of a healthy baby, explains Sherry Ross, M.D., an OB/GYN at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. What are the benefits of taking a prenatal vitamin?Įating a healthy diet is one of the best things you can do for your body and your growing baby during pregnancy-and this starts with ensuring that your plate is filled with the optimal nutrients. Prenatals are designed to be taken orally once daily, ideally starting at least one month prior to conception, according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). They’re very similar to a women’s multivitamin with the addition of key nutrients, such as folic acid, iron, and calcium that help facilitate a healthy pregnancy, explains Kameelah Phillips, M.D., an OB/GYN in New York City. That’s where prenatal vitamins come in, as they’re specially formulated to keep you and your baby healthy. (Even the healthiest eaters likely aren’t getting enough of the nutrients they need!) Doing so increases your chances of having a healthy pregnancy-and baby-by filling in the nutritional gaps that may exist in your diet. You’re welcome).Whether you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, you’ve probably heard that it’s important to take a daily prenatal vitamin. (Pro tip: Never pop your prenatal on an empty stomach, or you’re sure to spend the next hour hovering over your toilet. To give your search a little gusto, here are the most edible (hell, even tasty) prenatal vitamins on the market that are not your mama’s horse pills. That’s why it’s important to choose a prenatal that you actually like-a.k.a don’t mind taking-considering you’ll be gulping that goodie down every damn day. The downside of prenatals? They don’t help with that morning sickness you’re feeling morning, noon and night. They also may help prevent postpartum hair loss, which (like it or not) happens to most of us some three to four months after delivery. In fact, studies have shown that taking prenatal vitamins may even help prevent birth defects. Prenatal vitamins are a pretty big deal-they give your baby-to-be the nutrients needed to grow and develop properly. RELATED: 8 Best Nutritionist Recommended Vitamins & Supplements For Kids of All Ages Sure, the pill and tablet varieties are still a thing, and your OB might even tell you they are a cut above the rest, but the reality is that most prenatals on the market today are filled with the same, good-for-you and good-for-baby stuff (folic acid, vitamins B, C and D, calcium, thiamine, riboflavin and the list goes on). Now, there are countless varieties available, from candy-like gummies to the quintessential protein shake. Thankfully, moms of today have fatefully avoided the prehistoric prenatal vitamin that our own mothers had to swallow - aka the near thumb-sized horse pill - during pregnancy (or breastfeeding).
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