The post Decoding your prenatal vitamin appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>Good nutrition is important to help prepare a woman’s body for the additional demands placed on it during pregnancy. Certain nutrients, like folic acid, vitamin B12 and zinc are also of particular importance from the very first moment of conception (zinc contributes to normal fertility and reproduction whilst vitamin B12 contributes to normal red blood cell formation and also has a role in the process of cell division).
“In addition to eating a healthy, balanced diet, it is important that the supplement a woman chooses to take is specifically designed for pregnancy in order to ensure the levels of all vitamins and minerals are ideal for both mum and baby”, says Vitabiotics’ Pregnacare.
Current research highlights that women who take folic acid supplements for at least a year before they become pregnant can cut their risk of having a premature baby by 70 percent.
As well as the healthy development of the foetal neural tube, folic acid may also play a role in conception and is required in the first days and weeks of life, before you even know that you are pregnant.
Folic Acid is also beneficial beyond 12 weeks as it contributes to maternal tissue growth during pregnancy.
The UK Department of Health recommends a daily dosage of 400mg of folic acid.
Both are important co-factors in antioxidant enzymes, to help protect genetic material from free radical damage.
May help support ovarian function and enhance fertility. It is involved in the cell signalling pathway which influences fertilisation and cell growth.
Is a well known ingredient involved in nitric oxide (NO) metabolism. L-arginine can influence follicular release as well as healthy follicular blood flow and implantation.
N-acetyl cysteine is involved in glutathione production (an important antioxidant in the body). It is also important for healthy cervical secretions.
Part of the B complex group of vitamins, it has been found that B12 supplementation can maintain healthy ovarian function and reproductive health. Vitamin B6 is also recommended before conception.
DHA is an omega 3 fatty acid that plays an essential role in the healthy development of the brain, nervous system and eyes in a foetus or newborn infant.
Be sure to choose a prenatal vitamin with an ideal, moderate level of iron. High levels of iron are not recommended unless there is a particular requirement as identified by your doctor or gynaecologist.
Remember, good nutritional intake is vital throughout pregnancy, not just the first 12 weeks.
About the Author: For more information on Vitabiotics’ Pregnacare range, visit www.vitabiotics.co.za
The post Decoding your prenatal vitamin appeared first on All4Baby.
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