Which is the most essential nutrient required for a woman during her initial stage of pregnancy?
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If you are pregnant, or planning a pregnancy, you need to be careful about taking vitamins or any other type of supplements. Some can do more harm than good, so it's always best to check with your doctor before taking supplements. What are vitamins and supplements?Your body needs a variety of nutrients for good health: vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, fats and fibre. Vitamins are organic compounds needed in small amounts that your body can't make for itself. Apart from vitamin D, which your skin makes from sunlight, most of the vitamins you need come from food. Dietary supplements are complementary medicines which contain nutrients that may fill a deficiency (a gap) in your diet. Examples include multivitamins, single minerals, fish oil capsules and herbal supplements. Essential vitamins and minerals in pregnancyGood nutrition in pregnancy is vital for the healthy growth and development of your baby. You need to consume enough nutrients to meet your baby's needs, as well as your own. When you're pregnant, you need more of some nutrients, including protein, folate, iodine, iron and some vitamins.
Vitamin B12 and vitamin D are also particularly important since they support the development of the baby's nervous system (B12) and skeleton (D). Adequate vitamin C intake also helps improve the adsorption of iron from your diet. Do I need to take supplements?It's recommended that all pregnant women in Australia take folic acid, iodine and vitamin D supplements. Having a healthy diet is important and should provide you with the other nutrients you need. Check the Australian Dietary Guidelines for more advice. However, some pregnant women may need supplements of other nutrients besides folic acid, iodine and vitamin D. If you have a known deficiency, your doctor might advise you to take a supplement. For example:
If you're not sure whether you need a supplement, talk to your doctor. Multivitamins in pregnancyA multivitamin is a combination of different vitamins and minerals, usually taken as a tablet. Some multivitamins are designed especially for pregnant women (prenatal multivitamins). But they are not a substitute for a nutritious diet. It's important to eat healthily even if you're taking prenatal multivitamins. If you're pregnant, avoid taking multivitamins that are not designed for pregnancy. Take care with certain vitaminsYour body only needs a small amount of each nutrient, and higher amounts are not necessarily better. In fact, consuming more than you need can sometimes cause harm. For example, high doses of vitamin A, vitamin C, or vitamin E can be dangerous. It's best not to take these vitamins as supplements in pregnancy. It's also best to avoid foods that may be very high in vitamin A, including liver and liver products such as pâté. Just as you need to check with your doctor before you take any medicines while pregnant, it's best to talk to your doctor before taking any supplements. Other supplements in pregnancyOther than folic acid, vitamin D and iodine and any supplement prescribed for you by your doctor, there is limited evidence to support the use of supplements during pregnancy. Emerging research has shown that omega-3 supplements during pregnancy might help reduce the risk of premature birth, and that probiotics might help control blood glucose levels in pregnancy. But it's not clear whether the benefits of taking these supplements outweigh any possible harms. Until there is better evidence available, it's best to avoid them unless prescribed by your doctor — particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy. Because nutritional supplements are classed as 'complementary medicines', they are not scrutinised or regulated as much as other medicines. Resources and support
What is the most essential nutrient for a pregnant woman?Which nutrients are most important during pregnancy?. Folic acid.. Calcium.. Vitamin D.. Iodine.. Which nutrient is essential during early stages of pregnancy?The Importance of Folic Acid
The U.S. Public Health Service recommends that all women of childbearing age consume 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) of folic acid each day. Folic acid is a nutrient found in: Some green leafy vegetables. Most berries, nuts, beans, citrus fruits and fortified breakfast cereals.
Which is the most essential nutrient required for a woman during her initial stages of pregnancy for the prevention of birth defects?Folic Acid is An Important Vitamin
Folic acid is a vitamin found in many foods and multivitamin supplements. It's especially important for women who could become pregnant because folic acid can help prevent birth defects.
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