There are many keys to a healthy pregnancy, such as enjoying a balanced diet low in processed foods, exercising, and going to check-ups regularly at the local women’s health clinic. Another key is prenatal vitamins, or supplements designed for women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Learn more about these vitamins and why they are necessary here. 

What Are They?

A pregnant woman’s health needs are naturally different since they must provide nutrients for their growing baby. Prenatal vitamins contain nutrients essential to a successful pregnancy, including folic acid, iron, choline, and vitamin D. 

They should be taken at least one month before you start trying to conceive and come in different forms, depending on what you need. For example, if your diet normally does not contain a lot of iron, your OB-GYN will recommend a prenatal vitamin that is high in this essential mineral. 

Why Are They Important? 

Prenatal vitamins support healthy fetal growth and development, which reduces the risk of birth defects. For example, the neural tube, which contains the spinal cord, brain, and other central nervous system tissues, develops between the fifth and eighth weeks. Prenatal vitamins containing folic acid reduce the risk of neural tube defects. 

Other prenatal vitamin nutrients ensure the growing fetus receives sufficient oxygen, such as iron, which helps your body produce more blood and subsequently more of this necessary element. Vitamin D also supports fetal health, as it can reduce the risk of complications such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and preterm birth. 

Choline is another prenatal vitamin nutrient that reduces the risk of neural tube defects. It also lowers cortisol levels in the fetus’s body. Since cortisol is a stress hormone, choline mitigates the baby’s chance of stress-related disorders and illnesses.

Maintain a healthy pregnancy with assistance from Paula Korn ANP in Anchorage, AK. Certified nurse practitioner Paula Korn has provided area residents with compassionate, customized care for nearly four decades and treats every patient like a person instead of a number. Call (907) 277-2597 today to request an appointment or visit the women’s health clinic online for more information about pregnancy services.