The 3 Most Important Vitamins You Need for Your Baby (and You)

As a mother-to-be, you’ll want two things to happen during your pregnancy: a healthy baby and a safe delivery. 1 in 1,000 births each year suffer birth defects, so with the aid of these 3 needed vitamins, you’ll be at ease knowing that the baby in you will be as healthy as possible while worrying less about any possible miscarriages. Should your pregnancy be planned, take these vitamins 3 months before pregnancy.

Folic Acid

One of the most important vitamins needed by a prenatal mom, folic acid helps in the healthy development of your unborn baby by preventing birth defects. Around the first 4-6 weeks of pregnancy, neural tube defects (a neural tube is an embryo that evolves into the brain and spinal cord of the baby) occur, which can result in a possible birth defect. Folic acid can cut the risk of neural tube defects, thereby ensuring that the baby would be born normal. Prenatal mothers should consume at least 4 mg of folic acid daily either a month before pregnancy or during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Folic acid also aids in the process of cell division and aids in the production of red blood cells, both of which are the foundations of a loving, happy baby being welcomed to the world.

Folic acid can be found in the following:

• Citrus fruits and juices
• Dark green leafy vegetables
• Asparagus
• Beans
  Brocolli
• Lentils
• Peas
• Peanuts
• Whole grain products

Iron

Iron helps in making new blood cells for the unborn baby. Your unborn baby needs healthy blood cells in order to produce oxygen which ultimately fuels the baby's developing organs. Iron also helps the prenatal mother produce more oxygen to aid healthier bodily functions for herself. Mothers should be aware of the benefits of this somewhat common nutrient.

Iron can be found in the following:

• Lean red meat
• Chicken, turkey
• Oily fish
• Peas, beans
• Eggs
• Whole grain bread,
• Dried fruit
• Green vegetables
• Some cereals (check the nutrition label to be sure)

Calcium

Healthy bones make for a strong, active baby, as well as having a strong mommy to support the baby. Calcium aids in the development of the unborn baby’s bone density, as well as avoiding loss of bone density on the mother’s end. Calcium also lowers the risk of preeclampsia (a condition on pregnant women having high blood pressure who have previously not experienced high blood pressure before), which is also accompanied with a high level of protein in urine and often also swelling in the feet, legs, and hands. For mothers who are experiencing low birth weight issues, calcium also aids with healthily increasing birth weight since a healthy birth weight would aid in healthy brain development for the baby, as well as minimize mortality rate for newborn babies.

Calcium can be found in the following:

• Dairy products
• Dark green leafy vegetables
• Canned fish with bones
• Calcium-fortified foods like soy milk

Aside from the 3 needed vitamins, you should also take note of having healthy amounts of iodine (to prevents stunted physical growth, severe mental disability, and deafness on the baby) and Omega 3 (aids in baby’s brain development and decreases mother’s risk for depression during pregnancy) in order to make sure everything’s healthy and able with you and your baby.

A healthy mommy produces a healthy baby and keeping these vitamins in mind will not only ensure a healthy pregnancy but also, have a very healthy baby upon delivery.

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