We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Different Types of Vitamins for Pregnancy?

By Amanda R. Bell
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 5,653
Share

There are a few different types of vitamins for pregnancy that, when taken as part of a nutritional diet, can help keep a woman and her growing baby healthy. Prenatal vitamins, often prescribed by doctors to pregnant women, help to fill in any gaps in a woman's diet, especially if she experiences morning sickness. Folic acid, recommended for all women of childbearing age, can greatly reduce the risk of a child developing an open neural tube defect. Research has also found that taking an omega-3 DHA supplement with other vitamins for pregnancy can help an unborn baby's brain develop.

While prenatal vitamins don’t replace the need for healthy food, they are the most commonly prescribed vitamins for pregnancy. They typically contain at least 300 mg of calcium, 17 mg of iron, and a multitude of other vitamins and minerals to aid in maintaining mom and baby's health. Calcium helps to prevent bone density loss in the mother because her body uses the majority of its normal calcium intake to help grow the baby's bones. Iron helps oxygen move through blood; since blood is what carries a lot of the nutrients to the baby, iron is necessary for a healthy pregnancy.

Some prenatal vitamins for pregnancy include folic acid. Taking folic acid for at least one month prior to conception and through the entire pregnancy may reduce the risk of a child having an open neural tube defect. Whether the neural tubes close is determined in the first 30 days following conception; consuming folic acid for pregnancy before this point allows this essential nutrient to build up in a woman's body. Women of child bearing age, and especially pregnant women, are often advised to take 400 to 800 mg of folic acid every day.

Omega-3 fatty acids are known for aiding in brain development. The most common food source of this fat, which contains DHA, is found in fish that is often high in mercury. Due to the dangers of mercury during pregnancy, women are often advised to limit their intake of certain fish. This limit, however, means that most pregnant women are not getting the optimal amount of omega-3s and DHA in their diet.

Taking vitamins for pregnancy that contain these fatty acids has been found to increase fetal brain development and reduce behavioral problems as the child gets older. This supplement is often derived from fish oil that has had mercury removed. Research has found that most expectant women should take 250 mg a day during pregnancy.

When these vitamins are taken regularly in addition to a nutritional diet, it can help both mother and baby stay as healthy as possible. Vitamins for pregnancy should always be purchased from reputable companies. Before taking any supplementation during pregnancy, however, women should discuss their options with their doctor.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-different-types-of-vitamins-for-pregnancy.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.