If you’re pregnant for the first time, you likely feel excited about the future. You might also feel anxious about your baby-you want to ensure that he or she gets the right nutrients to grow healthily for the next nine months.To help your baby develop normally, your doctor might recommend that you take prenatal vitamins and minerals for the duration of your pregnancy. In our blog below, we’ll tell you why so many doctors recommend prenatal vitamins and minerals and how they help both your body and your growing baby’s body.

Why Are Prenatal Vitamins and Minerals So Important?

During your pregnancy, you probably do your best to eat a balanced diet. However, you may have some unintentional gaps in your eating habits. For instance, if you have an aversion to spinach, you might not get enough iron, and if you dislike milk and yogurt, you might be slightly calcium-deprived. Even if you eat a wide range of healthy foods, it’s still hard to get enough of the key nutrients you and your baby need during pregnancy.Prenatal vitamins and minerals should cover many of these nutritional gaps. Many women take prenatal vitamins in pill form, but if you have morning sickness or an aversion to pills, you can also take prenatal vitamins and minerals in drink form. Natural drinks can also eliminate sugars and other additives commonly found in pills. Talk to your doctor to find the right supplement for your needs.

What Vitamins and Minerals Should You Take?

Most prenatal vitamins and minerals will contain a combination of these key nutrients, along with several other helpful vitamins and minerals.

Calcium and Vitamin D

Your developing baby needs enough of both of these essential nutrients to build strong bones. You also need enough calcium and vitamin D during pregnancy to keep your own bone density from shrinking.Along with taking your prenatal vitamin, you can also drink milk fortified with vitamin D. If you dislike milk, you can find many other vitamin-D fortified foods, including soy milk, orange juice, and some cereals.

Folic Acid

Folic acid prevents a set of birth defects called neural tube birth defects. These defects affect the spinal cord and brain and begin just 28 days after conception, which might happen before you know you’re pregnant. That’s why many doctors advise women to start taking prenatal vitamins and minerals if they’re trying to get pregnant or to take a folic acid supplement if they could become pregnant. It’s difficult to get enough folic acid from your daily diet, no matter how healthy you are. Take folic acid starting at conception and for the pregnancy’s first trimester. To supplement your prenatal vitamins, consume more leafy greens, beans, nuts, and citrus fruits.

Iodine

Iodine lets your thyroid continue to function well during pregnancy. Iodine deficiencies can lead to deafness and stunted mental and physical development. A few iodine-rich foods include cheese, navy beans, and potatoes.

Iron

Your body uses iron to create hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. Since the blood in your body nearly doubles during pregnancy, you need much more iron than usual. As with folic acid, most women have a hard time consuming enough iron through diet alone. If you don’t get enough of it, you run the risk of developing iron-deficiency anemia, which can cause low birth weight and preterm deliveries. Along with taking your prenatal vitamin, you can get extra iron from vegetables, legumes, grains, and well-cooked red meat.

Zinc

During pregnancy, cell building occurs rapidly. Zinc ensures that the cells’ DNA functions correctly and can be produced and repaired. Zinc can also support your immune system. Most women don’t have zinc deficiencies, but you can find more zinc in your diet through red meats, nuts, whole grounds, and zinc-fortified cereals.

Talk to Your Doctor

Prenatal vitamins and minerals will help you and your baby stay healthy throughout your pregnancy. To find out how much of each vitamin and mineral you should take, talk to your doctor. He or she can make dosage and brand recommendations that suit your needs.