Top Benefits of Taking Prenatal Supplements
Pregnancy is a beautiful experience for many, but it can also be challenging. You may always be hungry, or you may be unable to keep anything down. Either way, you may feel uncertain about whether you’re getting adequate nutrition.
Pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding can be difficult for the human body. You may have nutritional gaps even if you eat a healthy and varied diet. Your doctor will address these by recommending supplements. Supplementation can ensure parents-to-be have everything they need for a healthy baby.
During pregnancy, you can be proactive about your health by taking supplements. Here are several top benefits of taking prenatal supplements throughout your pregnancy.
Supplements Fill In Nutritional Gaps
Prenatal vitamins like iron, calcium, and vitamin D compensate for nutritional deficiencies. You will need more essential nutrients during pregnancy to support your health and the baby’s development.
Helps to Prevent Birth Defects and Postpartum Depression
Folic acid in pregnancy is best known for its ability to help prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida. Folic acid could also help with cleft lip and palate and heart problems.
According to an article from the journal Nutrients in 2017, folic acid could help you ward off postpartum depression. Mental health issues are crucial during pregnancy since so many parents are under a high level of stress.
Supplements May Help to Prevent Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a dangerous medical condition. It involves high blood pressure over 140/90 mmHg in pregnancy. Preeclampsia disrupts your placental blood flow. The heart and other organs also experience stress. The condition could impair kidney and liver function. You may progress to life-threatening eclampsia.
Many people with preeclampsia must deliver early for safety’s sake. Early delivery could lead to low birth weights. Other complications of prematurity include anemia, jaundice, breathing problems, and infections.
A 2020 Journal of Clinical Nutrition review found that prenatal Vitamin D can help prevent preeclampsia. Anything you can do to reduce your risk of developing preeclampsia is worthwhile since it can lead to adverse outcomes for you and your baby.
Supplements Help to Prevent Anemia
According to the American Heart Association, you have a higher blood volume to support the placenta during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, you should be getting at least 27 mg of elemental iron each day. This amount is a third more than a non-pregnant woman needs to be healthy.
Low blood levels of iron or anemia can be dangerous during pregnancy. This condition could lead to premature delivery, postpartum depression, and low birth weight. So, most pregnant people receive advice to take iron supplements.
Supplements Prevent Complications From Calcium Deficiency
Many “old wives’ tales” about pregnancy nutrition are false, but there is one that could have the truth inside. During pregnancy, if your baby is not getting enough calcium, it will come from your bones. For this reason, calcium supplementation is essential in pregnancy. Calcium deficiency could cause bone loss and other problems later in life.
Supporting Baby’s Growth and Development
Prenatal supplements help your baby to grow healthy and strong. Omega-3 DHA fatty acids, like those from marine sources, promote brain development. The brain grows faster in infancy through two years than at any other time.
Choline is a nutrient found in breastmilk. It is necessary for your baby’s health and may not be in your standard prenatal vitamin. Find a supplement with choline for best results.
Helps to Prevent Rickets in Your Baby
Rickets or vitamin D deficiency is a severe condition. It could lead to poor growth and weak, soft bones in the baby. Your supplementation can end this lifelong problem.
Supplements May Also Enhance Fertility
Suppose you are already thinking ahead to a sibling. In that case, you may want to know that supplementation with certain herbs can help increase your fertility.
Supplements for a Safe Pregnancy
A healthy, natural diet composed primarily of whole foods is best for pregnancy. However, even the best diet can’t always supply everything a growing baby needs. It would be best to have extra iron, vitamin D, folic acid, and other essential nutrients like Omega-3s and choline during pregnancy.
You may be unsure that your diet is sufficient to provide all the extra nutrition you need during pregnancy. You can turn to quality supplements to help you fill in the gaps.
Explore Our Supplement Selections
Shopping for prenatal supplements doesn’t have to be complicated. Make sure to get your supplements from a trusted source. Learn more about LongevityHerbs.com’s prenatal products here.
