Pregnancy is a unique experience in the life of a woman. At the time of pregnancy, women need to take nutrients like folic acid or folate, iron and calcium in increased quantities. Vitamins and minerals such as folic acid, iron and calcium are essential for normal fetal growth and development. They are also essential for healthy adults. Prenatal supplements that contain variety of minerals and vitamins are used to meet the daily requirements of a pregnant woman.

Why are prenatal vitamins necessary?

About 50 % of birth defects can be avoided, if pregnant women take prenatal vitamins before pregnancy. Your diet cannot give you the required quantity of folic acid that the fetus requires during pregnancy. At the time of pregnancy you have to eat for 2 persons including your baby. So it is necessary for you to take prenatal vitamins at that time. You can ensure the future health and well being of your baby if you take prenatal vitamins as early as 3 months before becoming pregnant.

What are the vitamins required by a pregnant woman?

A pregnant woman needs to have multivitamin supplements especially Folic Acid, Iron, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C as 100% beta-carotene for proper growth and development of the fetus.

Folic Acid, which is a part of the vitamin B family, is crucial for a healthy pregnancy and fetal development. The risk of birth defects such as spina bifida, neural tube defects and other defects like congenital heart conditions can be reduced by taking folic acid. Neural tube defects are very serious birth defects but they are also relatively common ones.

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