Staying healthy during pregnancy period is important for every mother, so that she can deliver a healthy baby. The food you eat, the way you think, and the activities that you indulge in, all affect your baby’s overall health. A proper diet can help you get all the essential nutrients, but it is good to ensure that you are taking all the nutrients properly. The importance of vitamins, supplements, and nutrition are explained in detail below.
Nutrition
A pregnant woman needs 300 extra calories to keep herself and her baby healthy and away from all type of diseases and defects. A proper diet with lots of nutrients like protein, vitamin, iron, magnesium, calcium, and fiber which come from dairy products, vegetables, fruits, eggs, and grain is necessary during this period. A healthy diet not only aids to the development of baby, but it also helps in minimizing pregnancy complications and symptoms like constipation. If you are not getting complete nutrition from your diet, your doctor will advise you to take some prenatal vitamins and supplements to help cover the nutritional gaps in the mother’s diet.
Vitamins
You need to intake proper amounts of vitamins for the good health of you and your baby. The three most important vitamins are folate, vitamin D, and vitamin C. Folate is a B-vitamin which is helpful in the synthesis of DNA and red blood cells in the body and thus it helps in proper development of your baby. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin during pregnancy because of its major functions in the body. It helps in absorbing nutrients like calcium from the food which further help in teeth, heart, muscles, nerves, and bones development of your baby. The third important vitamin is vitamin C which we get from citrus fruits. Your baby needs a good amount of it daily and so you need to take it daily into your diet to prevent impaired mental development. Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is essential for tissue repair, wound healing, bone growth and repair, and healthy skin. Vitamin C also helps your body fight infections and acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage.
Supplements
Supplements are important when you are unable to get the proper nutrients from your diet. The two important vitamin supplements during pregnancy are folic acid and vitamin D supplements, both of which are essential for proper growth of the baby. If you are planning to conceive, start taking 400 mcg folic acid tablets and continue this until you are 12 weeks pregnant. Also, if you didn’t start it before pregnancy, start it after you know you are pregnant immediately. Folic acid prevents neural tubes defects and that’s why women with higher risk of defect should take 5 mg of folic acid daily. To reach the daily vitamin D requirement which is 10 mg, you can take supplements from any prescribed place. Women who keep their skin covered in sunlight might have vitamin D deficiency and they need to take the supplements.
Rao Hospital with its most advanced treatments and complete women care has been named one of the best hospitals in this region for Fertility and Gynecological services. Furthermore, our team of certified doctors & nurses are guaranteed to provide you with the best in clinical care during your pregnancy planning, birthing, and beyond. Rao Hospital is also a pioneer in the field of Laparoscopic and Hysteroscopic surgeries. Since 1985, the hospital has assisted more than 30,000 childless couples to have children by laying greater focus on Infertility and Laparoscopy. We ensure safe and ethical practice and assure you with best results. If you are suffering from infertility, schedule an appointment with our expert infertility Doctors today!