- Iron: Iron is necessary for making hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the other cells. Many women are iron deficient before, during and after the time that they have children. Since blood is lost during childbirth and every month during menstruation, many women have reduced iron stores throughout their childbearing years.
- Calcium: Calcium is necessary for the developing baby’s bones and teeth and is most needed in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy when bone formation occurs. A daily total of 1,200 mg of elemental calcium is recommended during pregnancy. If you’re taking a prenatal vitamin, you’re probably getting at least 150 to 200 mg of calcium, whereas, 8 oz. of skim milk provides about 300 mg of calcium. Therefore, many women end up having to take a separate calcium supplement.
- Vitamin D: Vitamin D is essential for calcium to be absorbed into the body. It also plays a role in mineralizing the baby’s skeletal system. Exposure to sunlight activates vitamin D, but if you are pregnant during the winter months, this exposure is often limited, and you may be advised to take a vitamin supplement or to increase your dietary intake.
- Folic Acid: Folic acid is a vitamin B-complex group and is important for baby’s cell division and blood formation. It has been shown to prevent spina bifida (also known as neural tube defects) and related birth defects that occur during early pregnancy. It is often recommended that women start taking folic acid at least two to three months before conception and throughout their pregnancy. There can be a considerable loss of vitamins due to oxidation when food has been stored for more than a few days, making it difficult to obtain a large amount of folic acid through food sources alone.
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