Health Topics
Prenatal Vitamins and Folic Acid
During preconception care and pregnancy, it’s important to make sure that you receive adequate amounts of certain vital nutrients such as vitamin D, iron, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and folic acid. Most of these nutrients can be obtained through a healthy diet; however, adding prenatal supplements to your routine helps to make up for any nutritional deficiencies.
Proper maternal iron adequacy is essential for a baby’s normal growth and development. Appropriate levels of B vitamins decrease risks of congenital heart defects. And calcium and magnesium play key roles in bone development, and, like vitamin D, they also lower preeclampsia risks. A good prenatal multivitamin will provide safe doses of all five important nutrients.
Fatty acids, in particular DHA, play a critical role in the neurodevelopment and visual acuity of offspring, and it is recommended to take a high quality essential fatty acid supplement (one that is low in toxicity) daily.
In addition, the U. S. Public Health Service and CDC recommend that all women of childbearing age consume 0.4 mg (400 micrograms) of folic acid every day in the months prior to conception to lower the risk of two common birth defects of the brain and spine (spina bifida and anencephaly). Consuming sufficient amounts of folic acid has been proven to reduce the occurrence of these neural tube defects by 50 and 70 percent.
Both women and men can benefit from prenatal supplements when trying to conceive. At Apothcary by Design, we offer a prenatal starter pack for couples that includes a gender-specific multivitamin, fish oil, and folic acid for the mother to be.
Contact our experts to find right prenatal program for you, or click here to learn more.
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