Supplements And Pregnancy

Introduction.

If 2012 is the year that you aim to start a family in – then knowing how supplements and pregnancy can work together will be of interest to you. Of course there are many things you can do as well as taking health supplements to help your chances of becoming pregnant such as eating a well balanced and healthy diet, drinking alcohol sparingly, not smoking and making sure your weight is correct for your height – and certainly avoiding becoming obese. However, as for the vitamin and mineral supplements that are known to have a positive effect on pregnancy – well just read on.

Vitamins and pregnancy.

Two vitamin supplements in particular are recommended to aid female fertility and pregnancy. The first one, folic acid, is known to be so vital to successful a pregnancy that, in some countries, it is automatically added as a supplement to the bread on sale in most stores. Folic acid is, of course, a water soluble member of the vitamin B complex and taking a folic acid supplement prior to conception and continuing it during pregnancy, can reduce the risk of neural tube defects by up to 50%. NTDs include birth defects such as cleft lip and palate to more serious ones including brain abnormalities. Although you only need a low dosage of folic acid, 0.4 to 1mg a day, it is important to take it as folic acid is not stored in the body for very long, meaning it is constant need of replenishment. The other vitamin women need to take here is vitamin D. This will help to maintain the bone density of women who become pregnant and help the fetus’s bones to grow and develop in conjunction with the mineral calcium.

Supplements can help female fertility and a joyous and successful pregnancy.

Minerals and pregnancy.

Following on from the above comment about fetus’s bone growth – taking a daily 700mg Calcium mineral supplement will work alongside the vitamin D to protect the bone density of pregnant women. The other mineral supplement to be recommended is Iron, for which a dose of not more than 30mg three times a day is recommended. Iron is essential to avoid the risk of developing anemia when pregnant. However, please note, Iron supplements shouldn’t be taken on their own unless supervised by a physician. So, look for a combined calcium and iron supplement or a multivitamin/mineral combination. Finally, of course, if you are under any current medical supervision – do consult your physician before taking any supplements.