Poor nutrition during pregnancy can cause complications during childbirth that may endanger the lives of both mom and baby. Throughout, and even before pregnancy, nutrition is absolutely vital to the health and safety of both mother and child. Prenatal vitamins help a mom’s body to support the growth and development of her baby in the womb. Vitamins help baby to get many of the essential nutrients that are important for growth and development.  Many moms don’t get enough vitamins naturally through their diet and vitamins help supplement the nutrients they are lacking. Daily requirements for iron, calcium and folic acid will increase during pregnancy.  Because these minerals and vitamins are essential for proper fetal growth we encourage the use of prenatal vitamins.

All vitamins are important, but these six play a key role in prenatal development:

• Folic acid – Folic acid is a vitamin that every cell in your body needs for healthy growth and development. If taken during early pregnancy, it can help prevent birth defects of the brain and spine.
• Iron – Iron is the mineral your body uses iron to make hemoglobin. You need twice as much iron during pregnancy than you did before pregnancy. When you’re pregnant, your body needs this iron to make more blood so it can carry oxygen to your baby
• Calcium – Calcium is a mineral that helps your baby’s bones, teeth, heart, muscles and nerves develop.
• Vitamin D – Vitamin D helps your body’s nerves, muscles and immune system work.  Your baby needs vitamin D to help his bones and teeth grow.
• DHA – DHA helps with growth and development.
• Iodine – Iodine is a mineral your body needs to make thyroid hormones. . You need iodine during pregnancy to help your baby’s brain and nervous system develop.

Vitamins are provided by the Pregnancy Resource Center, free of charge, to each of our clients under the advisement of an RN.

SOURCE: https://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/vitamins-and-other-nutrients-during-pregnancy.aspx