If you’re expecting, you’ve probably been told that you should be taking a prenatal vitamin. And it is true: supplementing is the easiest way to give you and your little one the nutritional boost you both need to thrive during pregnancy.
But how exactly do prenatal vitamins support your pregnancy? When should you start taking them and when is it okay to stop? Read as we give you the rundown on all things prenatal vitamins.
Why should you take prenatal vitamins?
Mums-to-be need specific nutrients and vitamins to support their own health, as well as their baby’s health.
What’s usually a nutritionally complete diet might not be enough during this demanding life stage – which explains why pregnant women are often more prone to nutritional deficiencies and why the right prenatal vitamin can be so useful [1].
But what exactly is the right prenatal vitamin?
Well, there are a few boxes you definitely want it to tick, particularly when it comes to the ingredients list. Here’s what you should look for:
- Methylated folate (not folic acid) to support your baby’s development
- Iron to carry oxygen through the body and combat fatigue
- Iodine to support your baby’s nervous system
- Vitamin B12 to promote healthy foetal development
- Choline to support foetal brain development, as well as the development of the placenta
- Zinc to support your baby’s growth and development in utero
- Vitamin B6 to help relieve morning sickness
- Magnesium to maintain healthy foetal growth, as well as prevent muscle cramps
- Vitamin D3 to help your body absorb magnesium and calcium and support your baby’s bone health
- Biotin to help convert the food you eat into energy for you and your baby
- Vitamin K to help your body absorb calcium and transport it from the intestine to where it’s needed
- Omega-3 to support the baby’s cognitive development
Kin’s Prenatal Vitamin contains just the right amount of each of these key ingredients – all in a highly bioavailable form that everybody can absorb and benefit from. It is gentle on the stomach and designed to fit into your routine – not disrupt it with uncomfortable symptoms like nausea or reflux. What’s best? It is actually easy to swallow, thanks to its subtle vanilla flavour and smooth soft-gel coating, so you don’t have to hype yourself up every time you need to take it.
When should you start taking a prenatal?
It’s clear that the right supplementation is incredibly beneficial during pregnancy. But what many people may not know is that taking a prenatal before falling pregnant is also a great idea. In fact, experts recommend taking them for at least 3 months before you start trying for a baby.
By doing so, you’re essentially creating a nutritional haven for you and your baby, right from the get-go. You’re ensuring both your requirements are met and reducing the little one’s risk of birth defects, even before you confirm your pregnancy.
When should you stop?
Once your baby is earth-side, you can stop taking your prenatal but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to supplement anymore. Giving birth is a huge feat and it can often lead to postnatal depletion, as a result of the physical, hormonal and emotional changes that occur while you recover from childbirth and try to keep up with the new demands of motherhood.
Enter: postnatal vitamins.
A key step to overcoming postnatal depletion is making sure you’re getting enough of the right nutrients, which will support your physical and mental health, help maintain energy levels, boost your immune system and stabilise your mood.
Kin’s Postnatal Vitamin was developed by dietitians to help look after you, so you can look after your baby. It is supercharged with 18 bioavailable ingredients in the optimal dosage, specifically chosen to support your nutritional needs 6 months after birth and while breastfeeding.
Remember: looking after yourself will give you the best chance at having a healthy pregnancy and beating postnatal depletion. Nourish your body with the right vitamins and enjoy every moment of your pregnancy.
References:
