Most Important Vitamins You Need to Take While Pregnant

Congratulations! You are on a journey to becoming a parent soon. Now, not only do you need to take care of your health but also the health of your baby that is growing inside your womb. The feeling of pregnancy can be overwhelming. But do not forget to take care of your health. For the ones who are becoming pregnant for the first time, it can be somewhat confusing. This is because they are not aware of the necessary supplements and vitamins that they need to take. Remember, consuming a healthy pregnancy diet, will enhance the development and growth of your baby.

However, before getting pregnant make sure to undergo same-day STD testing. This is to ensure that both the mother and the child are safe from any infections. Many people have an illusion that sexually transmitted diseases cannot occur in a baby. Moreover, if the baby is inside the womb, it is impossible to be infected with an STD. This is a completely wrong notion. If you want to enjoy a healthy pregnancy undergo private STI testing in London.

Pregnancy is a beautiful phase of your life. If you want to make the most out of it make sure to consume the right prenatal vitamins and minerals. In this blog, we have discussed the need for prenatal vitamins and supplements in details. We have also shared with you the list of prenatal vitamins and minerals that every pregnant woman should take to enjoy a healthy pregnancy. Therefore, without further delay, let’s get into the process soon.

What are prenatal vitamins and supplements?

Prenatal vitamins minerals and supplements are a need for every pregnant woman. It gives their body the necessary Minerals and vitamins that a pregnant lady needs to have a healthy pregnancy. The moment the doctor detects your pregnancy, medications and supplements for the proper development and growth of the baby inside. So, every pregnant woman should follow a healthy and balanced diet during pregnancy.

To ensure that the pregnant woman is not missing out on her nutrition, the doctor sometimes recommends one or two prenatal vitamins. Many people feel that these prenatal supplements are equivalent to some herbal or Ayurvedic supplements. However, before taking any herbal ayurvedic clinical supplement make sure to consult your doctor.

Why do you need vitamins and supplements during pregnancy?

As we have already mentioned pregnancy is a very crucial stage of a woman’s life. During this time the women not only need to take care of herself but also the baby growing inside her. So, the nourishment of both the mother and the baby e must be taken care of. The moment you become pregnant you need to increase the consumption of macronutrients in your diet. These macronutrients are proteins carbohydrates and fats.

During pregnancy, many women have a tendency to eat less fat and carbohydrate thinking that they will gain weight. However, this is not the time to reduce carbohydrate and fat intake and shed some weight. Now, you need to think of the development and the growth of the little life growing inside you. Generally, a non-pregnant woman takes 0.36 grams of protein per pound. But during pregnancy, she needs to take 0.5 grams of protein per pound.

The various reasons for the need for necessary supplements and vitamins during pregnancy include the following:

• Nutritional deficiencies

A doctor prescribed some vitamins and supplements to a pregnant woman only after he feels that she suffers from nutritional deficiencies. To understand these operational deficiencies, the doctor first asks you to undergo some blood tests. It is a challenging task to overcome such nutritional shortages. However, supplements and vitamins can at least support your pregnancy.

• Hyperemesis gravidarum

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a complication in pregnancy. One of the potential symptoms of this complication is extreme vomiting and nausea a woman suffering from this can lose weight and suffer from nutritional deficiencies. If the doctor finds that a pregnant lady is suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, he prescribes some prenatal supplements and vitamins.

• Dietary restrictions

Nowadays, people tend to follow a strict diet. However, these specific diets can lead to nutritional deficiencies. This is primarily because when you consume a particular kind of diet you are cutting down on some vitamins and minerals. So, the moment you get pregnant, you need some minerals and vitamins to avoid micronutrient deficiency.

• Smoking

One of the reasons why women are asked to avoid smoking is due to facing complications during pregnancy. Women who are added smokers get an extreme urge to smoke. Generally, doctors suggest them to consume folate and vitamin C.

• Multiple pregnancies

Sometimes a woman carries more than one baby in her womb. The amount of micronutrients required for one baby will automatically be doubled. Another need for supplements and vitamins is to check and control the optimal nutrition of both the baby and the mother.

• Genetic mutations

Sometimes genetic mutations can take away nutrients and vitamins from the body. A pregnant woman suffering from gene mutation will require the necessary supplement, especially folate to get rid of any complications.

• Poor nutrition

Women who have a tendency to choose food or be finicky about what they eat are low in minerals and nutrients. They need to consume some vitamins minerals and supplements to avoid nutritional deficiencies.

List of vitamins and minerals for a pregnant woman

Now that you have understood the benefits of consuming prenatal vitamins minerals and supplements, it is time to go through the list of necessary vitamins and minerals that every pregnant woman should consume. Given below is a short list of the essential nutrients and minerals every pregnant woman should consume at the prenatal stage.

1. Folic acid

Folic acid is one of the most important components for all pregnant ladies. It has a lot of benefits. Folic acid keeps your baby e away from birth defects and spinal cord issues. During an early pregnancy neural tube defects are common phenomena. This occurs when you have an unplanned pregnancy. In most cases, the pregnancy and planned. So, the doctor recommends consuming at least 400 micrograms of folic acid for every woman.

Start taking it right before conception and continue using it until 12 weeks of pregnancy. During the first trimester, if the doctor notices any defect in the neural tube of the baby, he will ask you to include foods that have folic acid in them. Some of the natural foods with folic acid present in them include nuts, beans, green leafy vegetables and citrus fruits.

• Calcium

Both the pregnant lady and the baby needs calcium to develop Strong Teeth and bones. The purpose of consuming calcium is to support and promote the proper functioning of the muscular circulatory and nervous systems of the human body. A pregnant lady needs 1000 mg of calcium a day, while a pregnant teenager needs 1300 mg of calcium a day. Some essential components that have a lot of calcium in them include cereal, fruit juices, cheese, yoghurt, milk, spinach and salmon.

• Iodine

Iodine is another essential component for a pregnant woman. It maintains the thyroid function of a woman during pregnancy. Having a deficiency of iodine during pregnancy can lead to stillbirth, miscarriage, stunted physical growth of the baby, mental disability of the baby and even deafness.

• Iron

The need for iron in a pregnant woman is massive. This is because the maternal blood volume in hances by 45% when a woman is pregnant. The presence of iron in a body helps the transportation of oxygen to every part of your baby, thereby, promoting better development and growth of the placenta.

Suffering from anaemia during pregnancy can lead to maternal depression, preterm delivery or infant anaemia. As recommended by doctors every pregnant woman should take 27 mg of iron every day to avoid its deficiency. However, the dosage varies from person to person.

• Fish oil

The two essential components present in fish oil are DHA and EPA. Both of these are extremely essential for the brain development of the baby. Fish oil not just boosts the brain development of the baby but also prevents maternal depression.  To get the most out of fish oil you need to consume at least two to three servings of sardines, salmon or pollock every week. 

Conclusion

To make a pregnancy a healthy and memorable one, make sure to consume the necessary supplements and vitamins. If you give utmost priority to your pregnancy, make sure to undergo an STD test in London. Affordable STD testing from a private STI clinic in London can make your pregnancy a safe and effortless journey.

Pregnancy is a very special time for many women and being conscious of nutritional needs is very important during this period of change. Vitamins and minerals play an important role in the health of both mother and baby. Here we discuss the most important vitamins that are necessary for pregnant women to get through diet, supplements and fortified foods.



Folic acid is one of the most critical vitamins that pregnant women need. It is necessary for the development of the neural tube, which eventually forms the baby’s brain and spinal cord. Expecting mothers should take 400-800mcg of folic acid per day starting very early in the pregnancy.



Vitamin B6 is another essential vitamin for pregnant women as it helps the body create new cells, produce hormones, and help with morning sickness. It is recommended that expecting mothers get a minimum of 1.9mg of Vitamin B6 each day.



Vitamin B12 is used in the formation of fetal red blood cells, and the development of the brain. Vitamin B12 is important for mothers and babies to ensure that they are able to get enough oxygen throughout their bodies. Adult pregnant women should intake 2.6mcg of Vitamin B12 per day.



Last but not least, pregnant women also need Vitamin D. It’s an important vitamin for bone growth and for fighting off any infections as well. Expecting moms up to age 50 should get 600iu of Vitamin D per day, while pregnant women over 50 should get 800iu per day.



In conclusion, pregnant women need to take special care of their nutritional intake during this special time. It’s important to consume foods rich in folic acid, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D. Pregnant women should also consider taking prenatal vitamins as a dietary supplement to make sure their bodies have the vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy fetal growth and development.