Prenatal Vitamin Standards

While you may already be health conscious in regard to your individual nutritional needs, it is important to realize that your body will have some extra prenatal vitamin requirements during pregnancy. It has become common practice for most obstetricians and health professionals to prescribe these vitamins for their expecting patients.

There are a variety of formulas for prenatal vitamins, some prescribed by the doctor and others that are available over-the-counter. Generally, you will find the prescribed formulas to be superior to those purchased over-the-counter.

Should you decide to select your own prenatal vitamin formula from those available over-the-counter you must be sure that certain standards apply.

Here are some general guidelines:

VITAMIN A- This is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps form and maintain healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucous membranes, and skin. Vitamin A also promotes good vision (especially, in low light) and is helpful in reproduction and breast feeding. When it comes to this vitamin, more is not better. Excessive intake of Vitamin A will not only make you sick, but can also result in birth defects. For women who are pregnant or producing breast milk additional Vitamin A can be beneficial. Ask your doctor what dose is best for you.

VITAMIN C This is water-soluble and is necessary for normal growth and development. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water, and are not stored in the body. Excess amounts leave the body in urine, requiring a continuous dietary supply. Vitamin C toxicity is very rare with 75-100 mg/day being a comfortable dosage. However, pregnant women may require more. Consult with your doctor regarding your specific needs.

VITAMIN D Vitamin D is another fat-soluble vitamin that helps the body to absorb calcium, as well as helping maintain the right amount of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Depending on your lifestyle, you may not need to supplement this vitamin. Often called the "sunshine vitamin," all it takes is 10-15 minutes of sun exposure, 3 times a week to produce the body's requirement. Daily recommendations depend on age, gender, and other factors (such as pregnancy). Again, check with your doctor for a specific recommendation.

VITAMIN E Also a fat-soluble vitamin, Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects body tissue from damage caused by free radicals, and is important in the formation of red blood cells. 15 mg daily is the recommended dosage. Women who are producing breast milk may require a higher dosage. Check with your doctor.

CALCIUM This is the most plentiful mineral found in the body with 99% of the body's Calcium found in our teeth and bones. The small remainder is found in nerve cells, body tissues, blood, and other body fluids. In general, adults should get 1200 milligrams of Calcium each day with up to 2000-2500 considered safe. Maintaining a healthy intake of Calcium will just about eliminate any chance of a low-level Calcium problem in an infant.

FOLIC ACID This is a water-soluble type of B vitamin which may be one of the more important supplements for fetal development. This vitamin helps form red blood cells and helps produce DNA, the building block of the human body, which carries genetic information. Taking the correct amount of Folic Acid, both before and during pregnancy, helps prevent certain birth defects including spina bifida. For pregnant women, 600 mcg daily is recommended. If breast feeding be sure to continue with at least 500 mcg daily.

THIAMINE, RIBOFLAVIN, PYRIDOXINE, NIACINAMIDE, AND VITAMIN B-12 Most prenatal vitamin formulas will contain two to three times the recommended daily allowance of these vitamins. Also, there are no known toxicity levels making any additional needs during pregnancy easy to meet.

ZINC and IRON Look for at least 15 mg of zinc and 30 mg elemental iron. Keep in mind that a supplement containing zinc will also need additional copper. Both are necessary for the proper assimilation of iron. Zinc will also be required when calcium supplementation exceeds 1200 mg.

While trace minerals are also important in nutritional health, you will find few if any prenatal vitamin formulas containing any additional trace minerals. Insuring that that your prenatal supplement formula is balanced to each other, and contains all the essential nutrients for mother and infant health can be a difficult task. This task is made easier with the wide variety and availability of healthy food choices. Be sure to eat healthfully and use prenatal vitamin and mineral supplements for extra nutritional coverage.

Copyright ©2007 Carl DiNello

Carl DiNello is an Article Author, Researcher, and Website Owner whose articles are featured on websites covering the Internet's most popular topics.

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