Prenatal Supplementation

Pregnancy is a huge undertaking for the female body; the female body requires months of preparation, additional nutrients during the pregnancy, and months of recovery. By definition, a growing fetus / baby inside of a mother is a "parasite" - an organism that grows, feeds, and is sheltered on or in a different organism while contributing nothing to the survival of its host.¹ Therefore, it is important to recognize the value of adequate nutritional intake before, during, and after pregnancy.

Most prospective and pregnant mothers receive a "prescription" from their physician for prenatal vitamins - vitamins that are synthetic and not readily absorbed by the body. Does it not seem strange to have a prescription for prenatal vitamins? Vitamins and minerals occur naturally in whole foods. The reasoning for the need of supplementation is that most women in modern society fail to consume adequate amounts of nutrients as they consume nutrient deficient foods. Modern food manufacturing strips the foods of vital nutrients - enzymes, vitamins, and minerals - for the sake of making foods more pleasing or convenient. Most Americans, and many other individuals in developed countries, over consume and yet remain malnourished.

Ultimately, the best source of vitamins and minerals would be proper nutrition - raw, dehydrated, or minimally cooked grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. During the prenatal, natal, and postnatal phases of pregnancy, ensuring adequate intake of nutrients is vital. Any deficiency of nutrients can cause neural or birth defects. Thus, prenatal vitamins are recommended during this phase of the woman's life.

Prenatal vitamins come in many forms - synthetic, cheap, prescription, whole food, or expensive. The greatest factor to consider though, is what would be best for the developing fetus. The adage, "you get what you pay for" applies to this situation. A priceless new life demands the best quality ingredients for proper development.

In my family-based wellness practice, I recommend the following to prospective and expectant mothers: whole food nutrition and a whole food prenatal vitamin supplement. The whole food nutrition supplies the mother's body with essential phytonutrients and the whole food prenatal vitamin ensures that the mother has all raw materials in excess that are necessary for the proper growth and development of her new "package of joy". Whole food vitamins are readily absorbed and assimilated into the body, are not produced synthetically, and require no prescription. They are generally a bit more expensive than other vitamins, but the vitamin content of whole food vitamins are actually utilized instead of passing freely through the body without absorption and assimilation. Ultimately, in terms of usable nutrients, whole food vitamins are more effective and cost effective.

I recommend NutriWest's Pre/Post Natal Vitamins and Pre/Post Natal Minerals. In addition to the whole food vitamins, Pre/Post Natal Vitamins includes the benefits of six million units of probiotics, essential fatty acids (EFAs), enzymes, and red raspberry leaf. This combination of excellent ingredients supports the developing fetus and the ever changing environment of the mother, ensuring that both stay vibrant, energetic, and healthy!