Tag Archives: iron in pregnancy

Tips for Taking Prenatal Vitamins

As soon as you become pregnant, your doctor will prescribe prenatal vitamins. The nutrients in these vitamins are important for several reasons. If you are trying to conceive, you should start taking them before you get pregnant. One important nutrient in prenatal vitamins is folic acid. Folic acid has been shown in studies to prevent neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. Neural tube defects often develop before you know you are pregnant. This is why women who are trying to get pregnant are advised to start taking the vitamins. Folic acid is available in many food sources, such as … Continue reading →

Getting Enough Iron

Iron is an important nutrient during pregnancy. The baby needs iron to develop muscles, red blood cells and blood vessels. Many women have a diet that is lacking in iron. Iron deficiency anemia is a common complication among pregnant women. Include iron rich foods in your diet to help be sure you are getting enough of this critical nutrient. Meats such as beef and lamb contain the highest amount of iron. It is found in smaller amounts in other meats, such as chicken. Vegetarian mothers should include non meat sources of food that are high in iron, such as green … Continue reading →