Pre Natal Vitamins.

Prenatal vitamins are usually prescribed for a pregnant woman by her Healthcare provider. Some women like to begin taking prenatal vitamins while they are trying to get pregnant. Supplements contain the daily amounts of vitamins and minerals recommended for you during pregnancy.

Your prenatal vitamin is different from a regular multivitamin because of its iron and folk-acid content. It is the most important supplement for you in pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins are best tolerated if you take them with meals or at night before bed.
Prenatal vitamins contain many essential ingredients for the development of your baby and your continued good health.

That's why you should take them until your baby is born. A typical prenatal vitamin contains the following:
•   calcium to build baby's teeth and bones, and to help strengthen your own
•   copper to help prevent anemia and to help in bone formation
•   folic acid to reduce the risk of neural-tube defects and to help in blood-cell production
•   iodine to help control metabolism
•   iron to prevent anemia and to help baby's blood development
•   vitamin A for general health and body metabolism
•   vitamin B1 for general health and body metabolism
•   vitamin B2 for general health and body metabolism
•   vitamin B3 for general health and body metabolism
•   vitamin B6 for general health and body metabolism
•   vitamin B12 to promote formation of blood
•   vitamin C to aid in your body's absorption of iron
•   vitamin D to strengthen baby's bones and teeth, and to help your body use phosphorus and calcium
•   vitamin E for general health and body metabolism
•   zinc to help balance fluids in your body and to aid nerve and muscle function

Some doctors prescribe calcium supplementation. Calcium is important for every pregnant woman. It helps build strong bones and teeth in the baby and helps keep the woman's bones healthy. During pregnancy, you need 1,200 to 1,500mg a day. That's about 3 to 4 glasses of skim milk a day.
Calcium supplementation may help control blood pressure and reduce hypertension and the risk of pre-eclampsia. Some substances interfere with the body's absorption of calcium. Do not consume salt, protein foods, tea, coffee or unleavened bread with calcium-containing foods.

Research has found that zinc may be helpful to a thin or underweight woman during pregnancy. We believe this mineral helps a thin woman increase her chances of giving birth to a bigger, healthier baby.
The value of fluoride and fluoride supplementation in a pregnant woman is unclear. Some researchers believe fluoride supplementation during pregnancy results in improved teeth in the child; not everyone agrees. Fluoride supplementation in a pregnant woman has not been proved to harm her baby. Some prenatal vitamins contain fluoride.