The times before, during, and after pregnancy are of paramount importance for obtaining adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals. Excellent nutrition is also vital for breastfeeding women and young children.
All of the B vitamins are needed in greater quantities during pregnancy. Higher amounts of folic acid are needed in the diets of pregnant women to prevent neural tube defects in their children. Pregnant women are advised to take 400 to 800 mcg of folic acid to supplement the amount of folic acid available from fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and in fortified food. Folic acid supplements are especially valuable from one month before conception through the first trimester of pregnancy.
Vitamin A in the forms found in animal products and in the forms found in many supplements can cause birth defects in the children of pregnant women if consumed in excess. Beta-carotene, found in fruits and vegetables, is a safe source of vitamin A for pregnant women. Pregnant women should limit their supplemental vitamin A to 5000 IU or less daily.
Abundant vitamin K in the diet is important for breastfeeding women, especially in the first few weeks of breastfeeding. This vitamin helps reduce excess bleeding in the newborn. Supplemental vitamin K is normally prescribed for newborn infants. Vitamin K is abundant in green vegetables. Calcium and phosphorus are needed by pregnant women for fetal bone formation. Phosphorus is needed to form the structure of both DNA and RNA. Adequate dietary calcium is needed to prevent calcium losses from bones of the mother.
During pregnancy, if insufficient dietary calcium is consumed, calcium and lead could be removed from the bones of the mother and put into the blood circulation with damaging effects on the fetus. Lead can easily pass through the placenta and can damage the vulnerable nervous system of the growing fetus.
Furthermore, withdrawal of calcium from the mother can increase the risk of osteoporosis later in her life. Iron deficiency is common in pregnant women. In the last six weeks of pregnancy, women need more iron than even the best diet can provide. Especially during these weeks, iron supplementation is recommended so that the iron stores of the pregnant woman are not depleted.
Because extra iron supplementation can interfere with the absorption of zinc from foods, zinc supplements may be needed along with iron supplements. Zinc is especially needed during pregnancy and for the first six months of breastfeeding. Four out of five pregnant women worldwide have inadequate zinc levels. Adequate zinc is associated with healthier babies and easier deliveries.
Iodine deficiency can cause brain damage, especially when it occurs in the fetuses of pregnant women after the first trimester and in children of up to three years of age. Iodine is critical for the growth and development of the brain and central nervous system. Stunted growth, mental retardation, and cretinism can affect the children of pregnant women with inadequate iodine intake. Pregnant and breastfeeding women can ensure adequate iodine by taking a daily prenatal supplement providing 150 mcg of iodine.
Pregnant women sometimes suffer from water retention. Lowering sodium amounts in the diet to recommended levels may help reduce swelling. To ensure optimal health for both the baby and the mother, these vitamins and minerals need to be maintained at their ideal levels.
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