Nutrients for a Healthy Pregnancy

The key nutrients for pregnancy are folic acid, calcium and vitamin D, along with the Omega 3 fatty acids. At least as stated by the April 2007 Issue of Diet and Nutrition. Pregnancy is a condition that requires more of these nutrients for the growing baby and mother to get what they need for a healthy pregnancy outcome. Here are some of the recommendations as stated in the Diet and Nutrition magazine article taken from a survey sponsored by the Society for Women's Health Research in this article.

How Much Calcium with Vitamin D

1,300 milligrams is suggested for those pregnant ladies that are eighteen and younger. One thousand is recommended for those pregnant ladies that are nineteen to fifty. It's important to be sure you're getting this dosage while pregnant not only for the health of the unborn baby, but also to avoid muscle cramps for the mother while she's with child. What calcium mom has is taken for the baby, so it's important to get a bit more to keep mom healthy as well.

Folic Acid

The magic number for folic acid seems to be 400 milligrams for those ladies that are of childbearing age, but increased to 600 milligrams for women that are pregnant. This essential B vitamin is what creates cellular division for us but especially for the fetus. Without stable cellular division when pregnant you stand the chance risking birth defects. Without sufficient amounts of folic acid, your birth defect risk can sky rocket. If you're going to skimp on vitamins while pregnant, don't let it be this one.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Two hundred milligrams of omega 3's is sufficient if you're not among the pregnant. However, if you are a pregnant woman you'll need at least 300 milligrams to maintain the baby and yourself. Cognitive functioning once your baby is born is dependent on this nutrient during pregnancy, so again if you're thinking of cutting corners don't let it be the omega 3's be the nutrient you skip.

These 3 key nutrients for a healthy pregnancy will maintain you and your baby quite well. Be sure to faithfully take these nutrients while pregnant to have a uneventful and blissful 9 months that lead you to a healthy baby.

Source:

April 2007 issue of Diet and Nutrition