Pregnancy is an exciting time for both mom and baby. But it’s also a very important time for women to take care of themselves.Prenatal vitamins are recommended for pregnant women to ensure proper nutrition during pregnancy. They also contain folic acid which helps reduce the risk of neural tube defects in babies.
Folic Acid Prevents Neural Tube Defects.
Taking folic acid supplements before conception and throughout early pregnancy can reduce the risk of having a child with a neural tube defect by up to 70%. However, not everyone should take them because some women who do so may become pregnant again too soon after stopping. Talk to your doctor about whether you need to take these supplements.Folic acid is one of the B vitamins found in prenatal vitamins. It’s essential for healthy fetal development. In fact, taking folic acid before conception and during early pregnancy reduces the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) by up to 70%. NTDs occur when the brain and spinal cord fail to develop properly. They affect approximately 1 out of every 100 babies born each year.
Iron Boosts Brain Development
If you’re planning to start a family, talk to your doctor about whether taking iron supplements during pregnancy will benefit your unborn baby. Iron helps develop the brain and nervous system in babies. It also helps regulate growth and development of blood cells.This mineral helps with blood formation and oxygen delivery throughout the body. Women who aren’t consuming enough iron during pregnancy are at increased risk for low birth weight and preterm labor.
Calcium Protects Against Spina Bifida
In addition to helping with fetal development, calcium protects against spina bifida (a condition where part of the spine fails to close properly). This condition affects approximately 1 in every 2,000 births. calcium protects against spina bifida, a condition where the spinal cord does not form properly. In fact, studies show that women who consume more than 1,000 mg of calcium per day are less likely to give birth to babies with spina bifida.
Zinc May Help Reduce Risk of Stillbirth
A study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology found that women who took zinc supplements during pregnancy were less likely to have stillbirths than those who didn’t take any supplements.Women who are pregnant should make sure they eat foods rich in zinc. Zinc helps protect against preterm labor and premature rupture of membranes (PROM). PROM occurs when the amniotic sac ruptures before 37 weeks gestation. If left untreated, it can lead to infection and other complications.