| One of the first things that happens when a woman | | | | Not all prenatal vitamins are the same. While a woman |
| visits a doctor either in a visit to discuss becoming | | | | will need sufficient amounts of all essential vitamins and |
| pregnant or the first visit after becoming pregnant is | | | | minerals, the most important to a baby are folic acid |
| that she will receive a prescription for prenatal vitamins. | | | | and calcium. Folic acid is a B vitamin that is essential to |
| It is such a common occurrence that most women | | | | prevent birth defects, especially those of the spinal |
| don't give it a second thought. Vitamin supplementation | | | | cord and brain. A pregnant woman needs extra |
| is generally a debatable topic, but medical doctors | | | | calcium so that the baby's teeth and bones can grow |
| agree that it is imperative for women who are | | | | healthy and strong. The additional supply of calcium |
| pregnant. Consider the last time you had a nasty cold, | | | | prevents the baby from the baby having to draw |
| for example. It is probably the case that your doctor | | | | calcium from the mother's bone. |
| did not prescribe that you take high doses of vitamin C | | | | Of course, every woman has different needs. If you |
| as a treatment method. | | | | are a vegetarian, have a low tolerance for certain |
| Quite often, doctors are reluctant to prescribe vitamins | | | | foods, or are on a restricted diet for health reasons, |
| for any health condition. So, why is it that they don't | | | | prenatal vitamins can provide you and your baby the |
| hesitate to prescribe prenatal vitamins? Quite simply, | | | | nutrients you need that would otherwise not obtain. |
| pregnancy means that a woman has to consume | | | | The exact vitamins you need is a determination that |
| enough nutrients for two lives (more if multiple births | | | | your doctor will make. Some women neglect to take |
| are expected). | | | | prenatal vitamins and attempt to use a multivitamin |
| If people in general don't consume sufficient vitamins, it | | | | instead. This is not a good idea since multivitamins |
| only makes sense that women would have a huge | | | | rarely contain the additional nutrients that a woman |
| deficit of nutrients if they were to become pregnant. | | | | needs when she is pregnant. |