Pregnancy is such a special time growing a little human, but do you know what it takes to nurture both yourself and your baby?
Pregnancy is one of the lifestages that requires additional nutrient status for females in order to support their body which is literally growing a human, but also to ensure the growing baby has adequate nutrients to thrive and grow within the uterus.
You may have heard about pregnant women increasing certain nutrients, but which are key and why?
Folate is a B vitamin that is essential for healthy development of the baby, and women are encouraged to take extra folate daily to prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida.
Choline is just as essential as folate for preventing neural tube defects, as it assists with brain and spinal cord development.
Iron is another essential nutrient to assist with healthy bone growth and structure, but also to prevent anaemia in the mother, as growing a baby often depletes a mother’s own iron stores.
Protein is assists with the growth and development of the baby, but also supports the mother’s requirements as well. This can increase from approx. 46g/day to 60g/day in pregnant women.
Vitamin A and D are key fat-soluble vitamins that help with the formation of the baby’s key organs and body systems as well as the structure of the baby’s bones, teeth and development of the nervous system.
It’s recommended that women set themselves up for good nutrient status by taking a quality prenatal supplement to ensure that the bases are covered when it comes to conception of their wee baby. Additionally, consuming foods rich in nutrients like liver, eggs, dark leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds and an abundance of fruit and vegetables will provide an adequate food first approach alongside supplementation.
If you would like to get your hands on a quality prenatal supplement that has active forms of vitamins and minerals as well as being far superior to the over the counter supermarket and pharmacy supplements available, then please get in touch for a quick 15-minute supplement consultation to discuss your individual needs.
Casey | Naturopath, Holistic Nutritionist, Medical Herbalist