The Recommended Daily Amount of Vitamins for a Pregnancy
Vitamins and minerals are essential for proper fetal development. A healthy diet will satisfy most dietary requirements for you and your baby. However, during pregnancy daily requirements for particular nutrients can increase.
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Recommended Daily Intake
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As every woman is different, there is no definitive guideline as to how much of each vitamin you need. Dietitians advise that a healthy, balanced diet should provide most necessary nutrients for you and your baby. Your diet should be monitored by a physician during pregnancy.
Healthy Diet
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A daily diet consisting largely of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and unprocessed foods should provide most of the nutrients you need. However, some supplements are recommended.
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Supplements
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Synthetic supplements are available singly or in multivitamin format. They contain highly concentrated doses that can be beneficial if your diet is lacking in nutrients. But they can also be dangerous if taken in large quantities.
Iron & Calcium
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Iron is a vital mineral needed to avoid anemia and maintain energy levels. Calcium is instrumental in the development of your baby's bones and teeth. The two work hand-in-hand, as the presence of calcium allows the body to process and absorb iron.
Folic Acid
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Folic acid is essential to your baby's neural tube development. It can help prevent neural defects such as spina bifida. Folic acid supplements are recommended to be taken through the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
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