6 Essential Vitamins and Minerals For Pregnant Women

The time spent of babies inside their mother’s tummy is one of the most crucial stages of their development.

There’s no secret recipe in ensuring healthy pregnancy. The basic nutrients needed by an expectant mother doesn’t differ too much from that of a non-expectant one.

The only variation lies on how much of these nutrients should be taken in order to cope up with the changes in the body.

1. Iron

Iron is an essential component in producing extra blood. As a pregnant mother, your body needs twice the amount of this nutrient to ensure that there’s enough amount of blood for you and your baby.

It also plays a significant role in facilitating the movement of oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body, including your baby.

Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, which may cause your baby to be born too small or too early.

2. Calcium

We all know how important calcium is in building strong teeth and bones.

However, now that you have a child growing in your tummy, your body will do whatever it takes to ensure that the baby grows as healthy as possible—including stealing minerals.

In order to ensure that you’ll keep a strong, healthy body beyond pregnancy, you have to watch over your calcium intake.

3. DHA

Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, is an omega-3 fatty acid that aids in brain development.

By providing your body with enough DHA, you are working on improving your baby’s cognitive outcome. According to studies, this includes motor development and attention span.

4. Folic acid

A neural tube is a structure that forms into the brain and spinal cord of a baby.

There are many neural tube defects that can be prevented by folic acid. An example of which are spina bifida (an incomplete closing of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord) and anencephaly (an absence in a major portion of the brain and skull).

5. Zinc

Adding to the list is zinc. This mineral helps in the growth and replication of your body’s cells.

Zinc deficiency may lead to issues, such as miscarriage and other problems related to pregnancy, labor, and delivery. This may include toxemia or pre-eclampsia. It is characterized by hypertension and swelling of the hands, feet, and face. Toxemia can be very serious because it is an indication that the placenta is detaching from the uterus.

6. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is necessary for body’s absorption of phosphate and calcium. Again it helps in keeping you and your baby’s bones and teeth healthy.

If a baby does not receive enough vitamin D, their bones may soften and it may lead to a bone development complication called rickets.

Because your body is prioritizing your child’s health, your regular daily diet may not be enough to supply these nutrients anymore. That’s why supplements are made.

However, take note, a little too much of something can also be dangerous. It is important to get a proper recommendation from your doctor first before any intake of these supplements.

Always remember, supplements should never replace a healthy diet. Their purpose is to support your diet and ensure that you meet all the important vitamins and minerals your body needs for a happy and healthy pregnancy.

For a list of maternity supplements, visit https://onelife.sg/collections/maternity.