Pregnancy is amazing; here's an experience that changes your life. Ensure your body gets what it needs to help the baby grow and develop. The prenatal vitamins fill in all the gaps in nutrition. But then, when should you start?
When to start pregnancy supplements-the first, second, or third trimester. Break it down trimester by trimester for an easy guide to optimal prenatal care.
Why prenatal vitamins are important?
Prenatal vitamins are special multivitamins developed to support pregnant women's higher nutritional requirements. They carry essential minerals and vitamins for the mother's health and her developing foetus. Prenatal vitamins are important because they contain folic acid, iron, calcium, and DHA, essential for prenatal health.
Taking Prenatal Vitamins in the first trimester ensures that your baby's brain will develop more effectively, and she can form the neural tube and grow.
First Trimester: The Foundation Period of Foetal Development
The first trimester is such an important time when your baby undergoes all the initial changes in development. Many of the baby's neural tube, brain, and spinal cord development occurs even before you know you are pregnant. This makes doctors feel that the need to provide supplements beginning right from the first trimester of pregnancy should be taken before conception in case you intend to conceive.
Essential first-trimester pregnancy supplement nutrients include:
- Folic Acid: It is crucial during the first trimester of pregnancy since it helps protect against neural tube malformations of the baby's brain and spine. Physicians advise that intake should be started before conception and continued throughout the first trimester, and indeed a pregnant woman can absorb at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily to help support the healthy development of your baby.
- Iron: Iron will help sustain the increased blood volume during pregnancy and prevent a woman from becoming anaemic. It will also ensure that oxygen levels in the mother's cells as well as the fetal cells are appropriate. Here are some of the required dietary intakes that you can take in during your first trimester: Iron-rich food is lean meats, poultry, fish, lentils, beans, fortified cereals, spinach, and dried fruits.
- Calcium: Forming your baby's and establishing or maintaining yours, calcium is an essential mineral. Milk, yoghurt, and cheese are all good sources of calcium. If you're lactose intolerant or vegan, look for calcium-enriched plant milk alternatives and leafy greens such as kale and broccoli in the first-trimester meal plan.
- Vitamin D: Enhances the development of your baby's immunity. Include the best sources of vitamin D; sun, fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, and fortified dairy products in the diet of your first trimester.
Such supplements, when taken within the first trimester of pregnancy, not only enhance the growth of the foetus but also decrease the risks of complications like miscarriage and premature labour. If you haven't started on prenatal vitamins even before you know about the pregnancy, start them at once to ensure the well-being of your baby.
Prenatal Supplements during the First Trimester of Pregnancy
Although supplements during the first trimester of pregnancy are very recommended, there are things you need to avoid. For example, you should take a balanced multivitamin that contains folic acid, iron, calcium, and DHA. Always stick to what your doctor advises for the consumption per day.
During the first trimester, most women develop morning sickness and nausea, which makes it difficult to take in a balanced diet. A supplement during the first trimester may complement a suboptimal diet or a decline in appetite.
Second Trimester: Growth and Bone Development
The baby's organs and systems continue to mature once you enter the second trimester, and growing needs for certain nutrients, such as calcium and iron, create a specific requirement. That's why pregnancy supplements in the second trimester are equally important.
As you advance into the second trimester, your baby's organs and systems are getting more developed, and your body will require even greater amounts of some key nutrients, such as calcium and iron. Pregnancy supplements during the second trimester are especially important for maintaining your health and ensuring your baby's continued growth and development.
Key Nutrients in Pregnancy supplements for the second trimester include:
- Iron: During the increased blood volume continuously, the body requires more amounts of iron to prevent the onset of anaemia and fatigue.
- Calcium: During the second trimester of pregnancy onwards, the baby's bones start to harden. The requirement for calcium increases during this period. Your baby will extract it from your bones if you do not consume enough calcium. It leaves one vulnerable to a disorder in bone density in later years.
- DHA: Being an omega-3 fatty acid, it is required in this trimester to develop the brain and eyes. DHA being one of the types of omega-3 fatty acids is needed for proper development of your child's brain and eye.
Pregnancy supplements in the second trimester will ensure that the bones, muscles, and organs of your baby are developed at the right pace. Your body needs to grow with it as you are now nurturing a fast-growing foetus.
Third Trimester: Preparing for Baby’s Birth
The final part of pregnancy focuses on preparing your body and baby for birth. Within the third trimester, your baby will weigh quickly and fully develop the internal organs as well as accumulate some fat. This contributes to a greater demand for important nutrients, thereby making pregnancy supplements during the third trimester critical to your health and the final growth stage of your baby.
Essential nutrients for pregnancy supplements third trimester are:
- Iron: It is as crucial in this stage as your baby's red blood cells are in the process of being formed and as your blood volume peaks, preparing for labour.
- Calcium: Calcium makes baby's bones strong and prevents preeclampsia condition that may arise during late pregnancy.
- Vitamin D: Vitamin D boosts calcium absorption and also helps strengthen both your immune system and that of your baby.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3 nourishes the baby's developing brain and eyes, always on the go.
This will ensure that you and your baby will have all the nutrients required during your pregnancy and labour. Remember, as the baby grows, it will take nutrients from your stores; therefore, you must maintain a continuous intake of prenatal vitamins for your well-being.
What If I Do Not Take Prenatal Vitamins?
Failure to take prenatal vitamins, particularly pregnancy supplements during the first trimester, may cause complications like neural tube defects, anaemia, and low birth weight. The first trimester is the most sensitive period for foetal development; therefore, it is the most crucial time to ensure one's body is well-nourished.
Missing pregnancy supplements in the second trimester can also influence your little one's chances of getting a deficiency in calcium and iron, which interferes with their baby's bone health and energy levels. Pregnancy supplements third trimester will impact your little one's ability to gain adequate weight and prepare for life outside the womb.
When to Stop Taking Prenatal Vitamins
Even though it's very common for most women to discontinue taking their prenatal vitamins post-delivery, it is highly advised that a woman should continue taking her prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding because the benefits are the same and your body is still providing essential nutrients to your newborn through breast milk. So, continuing with supplements will undoubtedly ensure that you and your baby get the necessary mix of vitamins and minerals in the postpartum stages.
Trimacare – Best Prenatal Supplement for all pregnancy trimesters
Trimacare Pregnancy Supplement is an optimally prepared 3-stage prenatal nutrition program for Indian mothers, where every trimester of pregnancy is professionally supported.
Trimacare is designed by doctors, pharmacologists, and nutritionists to meet the RDA for over 20 essential nutrients as recommended by top gynaecologists. With Trimacare Prenatal Multivitamin, you will provide for your child's physical and mental development, improve maternal health, facilitate an easy recovery after giving birth to your child, and even avoid diseases like osteoporosis, hypertension, and diabetes in the future.
Conclusion
Prenatal vitamins have become one hassle-free means to have a healthy pregnancy. The supplements during the first trimester create a solid foundation for your baby's development. Taking them during the second and third trimesters ensures that the baby receives all the essential nutrients for maximum growth and preparation for birth. Each trimester has its own set of nutritional needs, so you have to refer to a trimester-by-trimester guide to meet them. Visit your doctor and make sure to have the best prenatal vitamins for you, but most of all, remember that a baby's health starts from your care.
