As soon as you become pregnant, you need to begin nourishing your body in a way that also supports the growth and development of your baby. One of the best ways to do this is by finding a high quality prenatal vitamin, but it’s hard to identify the best choice in the sea of options at most stores. These tips will help you cut out the confusion and make a wise choice.
Check For the Most Important Ingredients
Don’t even think about purchasing a prenatal vitamin that does not include folate. Also known as vitamin B9, folate prevents neural tube defects and Spina Bifida. Unfortunately, most prenatal vitamins try to cut costs by using folic acid instead of folate.
Folic acid is the synthetic version of folate that cannot be metabolized by the body without a specific enzyme called “dihydrofolate reductase.” Many women lack enough of this enzyme to properly digest folic acid, which means that selecting a prenatal vitamin without natural folate places your baby at risk of a deficiency.
Iron is just as important as folate since iron is the building block of your baby’s cells. Many women experience anemia during pregnancy because their babies utilize all of their normal iron supplies, so you need an extra boost in your prenatal vitamin.
Also confirm that your prenatal vitamin contains calcium, another critical nutrient that help your baby develop a healthy set of bones! The list of essential nutrients goes on and on, including vitamin B, iodine, and omega 3 fatty acids.
Consider a Whole Food Prenatal Vitamin
Whole food prenatal vitamins are more expensive but also more effective. Cheaper brands use vitamin isolates that separate the nutrients from their phytonutrients, but this makes it much harder for the body to absorb and utilize the vitamins.
Synthetic vitamins can also accumulate in the body when they aren’t absorbed and cause other health problems like kidney stones and liver damage. The solution to this problem is to use a whole food vitamin that includes the vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. These vitamins are gentler on the stomach and can help to avoid the discomfort and constipation that many women experience with standard prenatals.
Private Pregnancy Testing
Of course, before you go out and buy your prenatal vitamins, it’s important to take a lab test to confirm your pregnancy. Store bought tests can identify positive or negative results, but only a blood test offers a final confirmation. Call (631) 357-3332 now to place your order for a private pregnancy test from 24-7 Labs.
