Multivitamins in Pregnancy: All You Ever Wanted to Know About

Pregnancy can be tough, both mentally and physically. Apart from carrying the baby for 9 months, you may experience symptoms like nausea, morning sickness, a loss of appetite, and a variety of cravings. Throughout this challenging time, your body may not be getting all the nutrients it needs. To support both you and the growing baby, the body needs more energy and nutrients. Even with a balanced diet, you may not be able to meet your ideal nutrient requirements. That is why multivitamins in pregnancy are beneficial. Pregnancy vitamins help you cover any gaps in your diet so that you and your baby stay healthy throughout this journey.

What are the Multivitamins in Pregnancy?

Our body needs small amounts of many substances to function normally, whether it is for cell growth, metabolism, or various organ functions. Most of these substances are not produced within the body – we need to get them from the food we eat. These are called vitamins and minerals. 

With a healthy and balanced diet, the body gets enough of these vitamins and nutrients to perform optimally. But many people are unable to meet their daily nutrient requirements. This can be due to a nutrient-poor diet, irregular meals, or much more. However, people with higher nutritional needs such as during sickness, or pregnancy may also not get enough vitamins through their diet alone. Luckily, there are various vitamin supplements out there that can compensate for the same . 

For even more convenience, we have multivitamins. These supplements are available as tablets or capsules packed with multiple vitamins (and sometimes minerals too). Pregnancy vitamins or prenatal vitamins contain the essentials that pregnant women may be lacking in their diet, from iron and choline to DHA and folate. The best prenatal vitamins contain not only the necessary vitamins but are also made with the right ratios of each vitamin to ensure the good health of the growing fetus and mother 

What is inside Pregnancy Vitamins?

Multivitamins in pregnancy can be prescribed by your doctor or bought over the counter. In most cases, you should start taking pregnancy vitamins before you get pregnant. This is because a lack of vitamin folate can cause development issues with your baby early in the pregnancy. Other women may already be taking vitamins due to existing medical issues, in this case, the doctor will advise on any changes to your daily supplements. 

While most pre pregnancy vitamins contain some of the following vitamins, they won’t contain all of them. Make sure you read the label and check which vitamins are in your prenatal vitamins to get pregnant:

Folate: Also called folic acid, this B vitamin is essential for avoiding irregularities in your baby’s growth. It is essential throughout your term but especially during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Folate is also available in chickpeas, kale, broccoli, leafy greens, citrus fruits, and fortified cereals.

Iron: Iron is a mineral, not a vitamin, that is required for proper blood function and overall development. Low amounts of iron can lead to anaemia, which affects both mother and child. You can also get iron from seafood, beans, red meats, and dark green veggies.

Calcium: Calcium is also a mineral and is not only required for the baby’s bone growth and development but also helps strengthen the mother’s bones. Without enough calcium, the mother may experience weak bones and the foetus may also experience developmental issues. Milk and dairy products, leafy greens, and bread are all good sources of calcium.

Vitamins A, B12, C, D and E are all crucial for normal biological processes and are important vitamins for pregnant women.

Pregnant women also do not get enough choline, which is needed for brain development, muscle movement, metabolism, and the nervous system. A multivitamin containing choline will work wonders.

DHA is also required for brain development, especially towards the final months of your pregnancy. DHA may not be in all multivitamins so ask your doctor for suggestions.

Prenatal Vitamins Benefits

The main benefit of these pregnancy vitamins is to ensure you and your developing baby get the correct amount of nutrients. Having a balanced diet should be the main focus. But your doctor may still prescribe vitamin supplements during your pregnancy if they feel you may be at risk because of any vitamin deficiency. Please note, however, even the best prenatal vitamins for pregnancy should not be taken too often. In most cases, your doctor will recommend 1 tablet a day. 

If you experience a lot of morning sickness, food aversions and nausea, you may not be able to eat sufficient food during the day. These supplements can help to support your overall nutrition despite those issues. 

Finally, some medical conditions result in vitamin deficiencies, due to the body not being able to metabolize or absorb vitamins. Supplements can help you have a healthy pregnancy in this situation. 

Precautions and Pregnancy Vitamins to Avoid

Since most multivitamins in pregnancy contain ample amounts of vitamin A and E, the pregnancy vitamins to avoid are additional vitamin A or E tablets. Excess of either of these two vitamins has no additional benefit to you or the baby. They may be associated with abdominal pain, birth defects, and other issues when taken excessively. 

Another precaution is to avoid using herbal supplements other than those prescribed by your doctor. While herbal preparations claim to help with nausea and other pregnancy woes, they may cause harm to your baby and you.

Note: It is advisable to take pregnancy multivitamin supplements under medical supervision

Conclusion

During pregnancy, always inform your doctor before starting any new supplement. In fact, you should take your doctor’s recommendation on whether multivitamins are something you even need or not. They may give you a prescription or suggest an over the counter supplement. If you enjoyed this article, be sure to have a look at some pregnancy-safe exercises you can do at home.