The need for vital nutrients increases during pregnancy. Here are some of the best supplements for pregnancy to support the health of you and your baby.
Why Take Pregnancy Supplements?
Although it is always important to get all of the vitamins and minerals your body needs, it’s vital during pregnancy. You need to consume enough nutrients for yourself and your baby in order to have a healthy pregnancy.
Pregnancy increases the need for these vitamins and minerals and there are several reasons why you may not get everything you need from diet alone.
- Severe morning sickness
- Carrying more than one baby
- Having to follow a specific diet, for example vegetarians or people on a restricted diet for health
- Poor diet, this may be due to small appetite or food preferences
The best thing you can do to support the health of you and your baby is to take prenatal vitamins but there are other supplements that you may wish to consider.
Here are 7 of the best supplements for pregnancy. Just remember to consult your healthcare provider before taking anything.
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The Best Supplements For Pregnancy
Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are thought to improve and restore the flora in the gut. They are considered to be friendly bacteria and help to keep the digestive system healthy. They are safe to consume and can be found in pickles, yoghurt, sauerkraut, and cottage cheese.
Taking a probiotic supplement during pregnancy is thought to help with constipation and diarrhea, and bacterial vaginosis. This is an infection that may increase your risk of premature labor.
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
Red raspberry leaf is a plant that is well known for its therapeutic qualities. It was discovered that red raspberry leaf tea could be used as a uterine relaxant. If the uterus is more relaxed this could mean a much easier labor and delivery.
As red raspberry leaf tea can stimulate the uterus it is recommended not to start drinking it until the second trimester of your pregnancy. I waited until my third trimester and began drinking it at around 34 weeks. It is safe to drink between 1 and 3 cups per day.
Drinking red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy can have several benefits.
- It can help you have a shorter labor.
- The pain from your contractions can be reduced.
- Can reduce the risk of complications and the need for interventions during labor and delivery.
Find out more about drinking red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy here.
Folic Acid
Folic acid is a form of the B vitamin folate. Folate helps with red blood cell production and is crucial to development of your baby’s brain and spinal cord.
Taking folic acid during pregnancy helps to prevent a number of conditions in your baby.
- Cleft Palate
- Low birth weight
- Spina Bifida
- Incomplete brain development
- Premature Birth
It is also thought that folic acid can reduce the risk of miscarriage and pregnancy complications like pre-eclampsia.
It is recommended that you take 400mcg to 800mcg of folic acid every day while you are trying to conceive and all the way through your pregnancy. It is also recommended that you carry on taking it if you are breastfeeding your baby.
There are many foods that contain folate, like cereals, spinach, beef liver, and lentils.
Vitamin D
If you don’t get enough vitamin D while you are pregnant your baby may not get enough calcium and phosphate.
Not getting enough calcium during fetal development may cause your baby to have weak bones and teeth. They could also develop rickets although this is rare.
We get most of our vitamin D from the sun. We also get a certain amount from foods like oily fish, red meat, and, egg yolks. If you are mostly pregnant during fall and winter or if you live in a cooler climate then it is important to take a supplement so you and your baby are getting enough vitamin D.
It is recommended that pregnant women take 10mcg of vitamin D each day to help with your baby’s bone development.
Vitamin D may be included in your prenatal vitamins so its worth checking before buying them separately.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is important for your baby’s nervous system and brain development. It is thought to help prevent eczema in your baby. It can also help with morning sickness and helping your blood sugar levels remain healthy.
A pregnant woman can take a supplement of 10mg to 25mg vitamin B6 per day. This is another one that may be found in your vitamins so always check with your doctor before taking it.
Iron
During your pregnancy you will need twice as much iron as you usually do because your body is making extra blood for your baby.
You need to make sure that you are eating foods with a high iron content. These include liver, kidney beans, lentils, and raisins.
It is also recommended that you take a supplement of 30mg per day, this can usually be found in your prenatal vitamins.
Magnesium
Magnesium has role in many functions in your body including immune, nerve, and muscle functions. It is an incredibly important mineral during pregnancy because a magnesium deficiency can cause a greater risk of high blood pressure and a premature birth.
It is recommended that you take 350mg day if your magnesium intake is low. This could be the case if you are vomiting a lot during your pregnancy.
However it is important to consult your doctor before taking magnesium supplement to ensure your intake is not too high.
These are some of the best supplements for pregnancy, this does not mean that they are right for your pregnancy. Always check with a doctor before taking any supplements.
