Maternity Vitamins - Support for Maternal Health

Maternity vitamins are specially formulated multivitamins tailored to meet the nutritional needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women. They contain essential vitamins and minerals to support maternal health and fetal development.
Category
Supplement
Where to get
Available over the counter at pharmacies and health food stores.
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Maternity Vitamins FAQ


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Are prenatal vitamins important during pregnancy?

A healthy diet is the best way to get the vitamins and minerals you need. But during pregnancy you might fall short on key nutrients. If you're pregnant or hoping to conceive, prenatal vitamins can help fill any gaps. Why are prenatal vitamins important? During pregnancy, you need more folic acid and iron than usual. Here's why:

Is there a perfect prenatal vitamin?

In other words, there is no such thing as a “perfect” prenatal vitamin that can meet all of your prenatal needs. It’s common knowledge that vi tamin D benefits our bone, brain, cardiovascular, immune, metabolic, and respiratory health, but did you know that vitamin D is also critical for maintaining a healthy pregnancy?

What prenatal vitamins should I take?

Beyond checking for folic acid and iron, look for a prenatal vitamin that contains calcium and vitamin D. They help promote the development of the baby's teeth and bones. It also might be beneficial to look for a prenatal vitamin that contains vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, B vitamins, zinc and iodine.

What are prenatal vitamins?

Prenatal vitamins are supplements that contain daily vitamins and minerals you need before and during your pregnancy. Folic acid is the most important vitamin to take when planning a pregnancy. Folic acid is a B vitamin that cells in your body need for growing and developing.

Why is vitamin A important during pregnancy?

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble nutrient that is needed in small quantities during pregnancy. This nutrient is associated with bone development, plays a role in strengthening the immune system and is essential in the development of the embryo in the early stages of pregnancy . Vitamin A is most commonly found in food sources like:

Maternity Vitamins References

If you want to know more about Maternity Vitamins, consider exploring links below:

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