When you’re pregnant, your body goes through a lot of major changes to get ready for baby. The whole experience can feel like a rollercoaster of emotions and physical changes, but it’s also amazing and transformative. After all, you are bringing a new life into the world and that’s pretty incredible.
But with all these changes, it’s no wonder there is a lot of information out there talking about food and what to eat during pregnancy. Pregnant women need special nutrients to support not only their own health, but that of their developing baby. The problem is, there’s no shortage of “eat this, not that” or “must avoid foods” lists making it hard and sometimes stressful to figure out what to eat during pregnancy.
To make it a little easier on yourself, we’re outlining some of the key vitamins and minerals for most pregnant women. We know everyone’s health needs are different so as always, speak with your care provider before starting any new routine!
Key Nutrients for Pregnancy
Folate is a type of B-vitamin that is very important for fetal development in the first months of pregnancy. Reach for leafy greens, citrus fruits, beans, and peas for good sources of folate.
You’ll also want to meet your calcium intake. Pregnant women need about 1,300mg of calcium per day to support bones and teeth. Dairy products, salmon, and spinach are all great sources of calcium.
Another important nutrient during pregnancy is iron, which helps your body create more blood so your baby can get the oxygen he or she requires.* It’s recommended to almost double your daily amount of iron when you’re pregnant, so load up your plate with meat (poultry and lean red meat are especially recommended), beans, and fortified cereals.
We can’t forget to mention vitamin D and Omega-3. Vitamin D helps build your baby’s bones and teeth and Omega-3 helps support health brain and eye development.*
In the first few months of pregnancy, though, it can be difficult to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet full of these nutrients – especially when the cravings hit! And that’s all totally fair… you should indulge a little. But if there was ever a time to look at what you’re eating and putting into your body, pregnancy is it. This is why doctors often recommend prenatal vitamins to help meet certain nutritional needs. The purpose of a prenatal supplement is to help meet the specific daily recommendations for vitamins and minerals during pregnancy.
Finding the Prenatal Multivitamin for You
There are many types of multivitamins out there, prenatals are no exception. From gummies to softgels to multivitamins, there are ample choices of Alive!® prenatal multivitamins to help you on this journey.
If gummies are your preferred way to take a multivitamin, you’ll love the strawberry and lemon flavors of Alive! Premium Prenatal Gummies, made with 75 mg of plant DHA and 200 mg of our Orchard Fruits™ and Garden Veggies™ powder blend per serving. The gummies deliver 100% or more of the daily value of 15 essential vitamins and minerals to help support you through all nine months and beyond.
If you’re looking for higher potency prenatal nutrients, our vegetarian Complete Premium Prenatal Multi Softgel is a high-potency multivitamin that delivers 100% or more of the recommended daily value of 18 vitamins and minerals. It contains 100 mg of the Orchard Fruits™ and Garden Veggies™ powder blend per serving and is made with plant-based DHA from algae to help support healthy brain and eye development.*
Just remember, your journey is unique, and your health needs might be different. If you need help figuring out what’s best for you, talk with your health care practitioner. Pregnancy shouldn’t be stressful – embrace the changes, practice self-care, listen to your body, and get those nutrients.
‡Healthful diets with adequate folate may reduce a woman’s risk of having a child with a brain or spinal cord defect.