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Fetal Development

Prenatal Vitamins and Healthy Weight

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The nutritional value of our food supply has declined tremendously in the last century. While obtaining all of your vitamins and minerals from food sources is an admirable goal, it is pretty close to impossible to achieve. Pregnancy is no time for such health experiments. It is mandatory to receive adequate amounts of key nutrients in order for you baby to thrive and avoid birth defects. The next best thing to getting your nutrients through food is to choose a food based prenatal vitamin or a superfood.

Author: Dr. Todd Sinett

Taking a prenatal or multivitamin prior to and during pregnancy may reduce the risk of developing pre-eclampsia, a condition that can result in serious fetal and maternal complications. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh found that women who took a multivitamin at least one time per week before becoming pregnant as well as during the first trimester were 71% less likely to develop pre-eclampsia than women who didn’t take one. The only catch is…. this was only effective for women who were at a healthy pre-pregnancy weight. Overweight women who took multivitamins did not have a lower risk of pre-eclampsia.

What is pre-eclampsia?
Pre-eclampsia is a condition that usually develops in the later stages of pregnancy and is marked by high maternal blood pressure, protein in the urine, and swelling of the hands and feet. Fetal complications can include low birth weight, premature birth, and stillbirth. The only definite treatment for pre-eclampsia is delivery.

Prenatal Nutrition 101
Avoiding pre-eclampsia is not the only reason to get serious about good nutrition prior to pregnancy. Experts agree that developing good eating habits and establishing appropriate levels of vitamins and minerals in the body before becoming pregnant is just as important as what is eaten during pregnancy. Aside from the overall benefits of good nutrition, developing better eating habits before becoming pregnant makes it easier to eat healthfully during pregnancy. Furthermore, many women may become pregnant without realizing it right away.

Maintain a healthy weight:
Being overweight, or underweight, can directly affect a baby’s birth weight and increase the risk of complications during pregnancy. Underweight women tend to have a higher risk of giving birth to a low-birth weight baby, while overweight women are more likely to develop gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, complications during delivery, and have overweight children.

FACT: Up to 38% of pregnancies occur in women who are overweight at conception.

Although medical doctors will tell you otherwise, many nutritionists believe that pre-eclampsia can be prevented with proper nutrition. The Brewers diet claims to prevent pre-eclampsia among other common conditions for pregnancy. Other studies have shown that adequate supplementation of Vitamins C (1000 mg) and E (400 IU) along with a calcium supplement (1200-1800 milligrams) can prevent pre-eclampsia. Others believe that high quality protein is essential for preventing. You should be taking these anyway while pregnant, but this is even more incentive to make sure you supplement regularly and carefully.

There are three key nutrients that are especially important to get enough of before and during pregnancy.

1. Folic Acid
Important for: Development of the fetus (especially the brain and spinal cord) during the first months of pregnancy. Adequate folic acid intake has been shown to prevent neural tube birth defects.

  • How much? Women of childbearing age should consume 400 µg per day of folic acid from fortified foods, supplements, or both, in addition to folate contained in a varied diet. Almost all prenatal vitamins contain at least the minimum recommended amount of folic acid.
  • Where to find it: Folate is found naturally is green leafy vegetables and citrus fruits as well as fortified cereals and other fortified foods.

2. Iron
Important for: Building up iron stores before pregnancy. Many women have low iron stores as a result of monthly menstruation and diets low in iron. Plus, iron needs are almost double during pregnancy due to an increase in blood volume.

  • How much? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all pregnant women take a low dose iron supplement (30 mg/day) beginning at their first prenatal visit. Women who are not pregnant but are of childbearing age should get 18mg from diet and supplements combined.
  • Where to find it: Green leafy vegetables, beans, red meat and fortified cereals. Foods rich in vitamin C like citrus fruits as well as meat can help improve the body’s absorption of iron from food.

3. Calcium
Important for: Keeping bones healthy before and during pregnancy. It is important to build up bone mineral density before becoming pregnant to compensate for the added stress and calcium requirements during pregnancy.

  • How much? 1300 mg/day for women aged 14-18, and 1,000 mg/day for ages 19-54.
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The information we present is not intended to replace a relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems,disease, or illness without consulting with your own physician or qualified medical professional.