Tantric Yoga Techniques

Prenatal vitamins have become very popular among some women because it is believed that they help prevent birth defects. It is probably a good idea to supplement with prenatal vitamins because during pregnancy, both the mother and the child have increased needs for certain nutrients like folic acid and iron during this time and prenatal vitamins will prove helpful. Women who are pregnant often find that their doctors prescribe a prenatal vitamin. However, evidence has emerged that even for those women that are planning to conceive can benefit from prenatal vitamins. Prenatal vitamins could prevent potential nutritional deficiencies during this crucial time.

Most Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated to make up for nutritional deficiencies in a mother’s diet, and contain supplements such as vitamins, zinc, iron, and calcium. Perhaps most important, they contain folic acid, which reduces the risk of serious birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. Prenatal vitamins could very well prove to play a vital role in a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby, due in large part to the great defiencies now found in most of our food. However, prenatal vitamins are not meant to be your sole source of nutrients. They are meant to supplement, or prevent certain nutrient deficiencies. Eating a healthy, varied and balanced diet will go a long way toward ensuring the health of both mother and infant.

IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS FOR MOTHER AND CHILD:

DHA

DHA is a fatty acid belonging to the omega- 3 family, and it is very important for brain development. This nutrient is crucial for the baby from the very beginning of pregnancy through the time of breast feeding. It is essential to the body, but much more so during pregnancy.

IRON

Iron is an important mineral, and most prenatal will have 30 to 40 mg. If a woman is anemic, she should talk to her health care provider about whether she will need more. Additionally, a natural practioner may recommend a different type of iron supplement. During the third trimester of pregnancy, the baby will use a tremendous amount of iron, which comes from the mother’s stored levels.

FOLIC ACID

Folic Acid is very essential for a healthy pregnancy and healthy fetal development. It has been shown to decrease the risk of birth defects like spine bifida or other neural tube defects. Folic acid is naturally found in dark, leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, dried beans, and whole grain breads and cereals. Most cereals are also fortified with many other vitamins and can be a good dietary choice for the pregnant woman who cannot tolerate vitamins. Folic acid is an essential nutrient that can help prevent birth defects in newborns.

Folic acid has been proven essential to a baby’s neural tube development during the first three months of a woman’s pregnancy. This is the time when the mother is most likely to experience nausea and vomiting. Folic acid is regarded as so important that it is often recommended that women start taking folate, 30 days or more prior to attempting to conceive.

CALCIUM

Calcium as most women are aware is extremely important, it is more so important in the development of a baby. Calcium, along with magnesium, help protects the mother’s bones. The recommended amount of 1200 mg. per day of is not found in most prenatal supplements. It should be remembered, however, that you will obtain some of your calcium from food.

Finally, not all prenatal vitamins are created equal… While most prenatal vitamins try to pack in as much as they can into the vitamin, they must be careful not to promote an excess of potentially toxic fat soluble vitamins. Vitamin A should be provided as water-soluble beta carotene at a level that won’t cause vitamin A toxicity. Vitamin E should be included from an all-natural source and provided in a safe amount. Deficiencies in vitamin E in pregnancy have been linked to birth defects so having “just enough” is important. Vitamin K, another fat-soluble vitamin, which also needs to be provided in amounts that avoid toxicity.