Starting your pregnancy journey? Prenatal vitamins will be an essential part of your routine to help you and your growing baby, ensuring you have all the building blocks needed for your little one’s development. Here we’ll unpack the science, and help you make informed decisions about your prenatal health.
What are prenatal vitamins?
Prenatal vitamins are dietary supplements designed specifically for pregnant women or those planning to conceive. These vitamins contain higher levels of certain nutrients compared to standard multivitamins, including folic acid, iron, calcium, and other essential vitamins and minerals. Each component plays a vital role in supporting maternal health and foetal development, reducing the risk of congenital disabilities, and promoting overall wellbeing during pregnancy. While not a substitute for a balanced diet, prenatal vitamins help ensure that both mother and baby receive adequate nutrition during this critical time. Learn more about supplements to take during pregnancy here.
What are the benefits of taking prenatal vitamins/supplements?
Prenatal vitamins offer numerous benefits, from providing essential nutrients to the developing foetus, reducing the risk of neural tube defects and supporting maternal metabolism. Here we explore each benefit in more detail.
Supports the health of the developing foetus
Prenatal vitamins are formulated to support the healthy development of your baby from conception onwards. The nutrients in these supplements play crucial roles in various aspects of foetal growth. Folic acid is essential for proper neural tube formation, which occurs in the early weeks of pregnancy and is recommended by the NHS, along with vitamin D. Iron supports the baby’s growth and ensures adequate oxygen supply. Calcium contributes to the development of strong bones and teeth, whilst DHA aids in brain and eye development. Studies highlight the importance of these nutrients in preventing developmental issues and ensuring overall foetal health. By taking prenatal vitamins, you’re providing your baby with the foundation needed for optimal growth and development throughout your pregnancy.
Helps to prevent neural tube defects
The NHS emphasises that the primary benefits of prenatal vitamins is their role in preventing neural tube defects (NTDs). These serious birth defects affect the baby’s brain and spine and can have lifelong implications. Evidence shows that folic acid, a key component in prenatal vitamins, significantly reduces the risk of NTDs when taken before conception and during early pregnancy. It ensures proper closure of the neural tube, which occurs in the first few weeks of pregnancy – often before you’re aware you’re pregnant. By starting prenatal vitamins when planning to conceive, you’re taking a proactive step in protecting your baby’s neurological health from the earliest stages of development.
Supports your metabolism
Prenatal vitamins often contain essential B vitamins, including B6, B12, and folic acid, which studies show plays a crucial role in supporting your metabolism during pregnancy. These vitamins help convert food into energy, ensuring that both you and your developing baby have the necessary resources for growth and development. Additionally, research shows B vitamins are vital for the formation of red blood cells, which transport oxygen throughout your body and to your baby. By supporting your metabolism, prenatal vitamins help maintain your energy levels and ensure efficient nutrient utilisation throughout your pregnancy.
Helps to prevent iron-deficiency anaemia
Iron is a vital component of prenatal vitamins, with reports indicating that they help to prevent iron-deficiency anaemia, a common condition during pregnancy. Your body needs about twice as much iron during pregnancy to produce extra blood to support your growing baby. Iron is crucial for the production of haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Adequate iron levels ensure that both you and your baby receive sufficient oxygen, reducing the risk of fatigue, weakness, and other complications associated with anaemia. Prenatal vitamins provide the additional iron your body needs to meet these increased demands during pregnancy.
Reduces the risk of vitamin D and vitamin C deficiency
Prenatal vitamins can also help reduce the risk of vitamin D and vitamin C deficiencies, both of which are crucial during pregnancy. Vitamin D is essential for bone health and immune function, whilst vitamin C aids in iron absorption and supports the immune system. These vitamins work together to ensure your overall health and that of your baby. Systematic reviews indicate that vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, supporting your baby’s bone development, whilst vitamin C contributes to the formation of collagen, important for your baby’s skin, bones, and blood vessels. By including these vitamins in your prenatal supplement, you’re safeguarding against deficiencies that could lead to complications.
Reduces the risk of calcium deficiency
Studies advocate that calcium is another critical nutrient found in prenatal vitamins, helping to reduce the risk of calcium deficiency during pregnancy. This mineral is vital for the development of your baby’s bones and teeth, as well as for maintaining your own bone density. During pregnancy, if you don’t get enough calcium from your diet, your body will take it from your bones to meet your baby’s needs. Adequate calcium intake during pregnancy helps prevent bone loss in you and ensures proper skeletal development in your baby. Prenatal vitamins provide an additional source of calcium, helping to meet the increased demands of pregnancy and supporting both your health and your baby’s development.
What prenatal supplements should you take?
When choosing prenatal supplements, it’s important to look for those that contain essential nutrients such as folic acid, calcium, vitamin B6 and zinc in the correct quantities. Make sure you’re aware of the appropriate dosages and avoid too much vitamin A in particular as this can harm your baby.
Products like Impryl are formulated to support maternal and foetal health, providing the necessary vitamins and minerals for a healthy pregnancy. Impryl contains Folate 5-MTHF which is the activated form of folic acid. As it is already active, it means your body is getting the micronutrients it needs without the need to convert it. These activated micronutrients in Impryl are provided in the correct amounts to help enable your body to maintain that perfect metabolic balance to optimise egg and sperm quality. We take a scientific approach looking at how our ingredients work together to support you. However, every pregnancy is unique, and individual nutritional needs may vary. We recommend consulting with your doctor to ensure you’re taking the right supplements for your specific needs.
You may also find that iron supplements contain vitamin C to help absorption. Avoid taking high doses of Vitamin C in addition to this, or other strong antioxidants (Selenium, CoQ10 etc), as they can upset the delicate balance that Impryl achieves.
Prenatal vitamins are a vital part of your conception and pregnancy journey, providing the nutrients you and your baby need to thrive. Make sure to choose the right supplements, recommended by fertility specialists, like Impryl. With the right prenatal vitamins, you’re giving your baby the best start in life.
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References
Adams JB, Sorenson JC, Pollard EL, Kirby JK, Audhya T. Evidence-Based Recommendations for an Optimal Prenatal Supplement for Women in the U.S., Part Two: Minerals. Nutrients. 2021 May 28;13(6):1849. doi: 10.3390/nu13061849. PMID: 34071548; PMCID: PMC8229801.
Finkelstein JL, Fothergill A, Venkatramanan S, Layden AJ, Williams JL, Crider KS, Qi YP. Vitamin B12 supplementation during pregnancy for maternal and child health outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2024, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD013823. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013823.pub2.
Anaemia, prenatal iron use, and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2013; 346. (Published 21 June 2013) doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f3443
Adams JB, Sorenson JC, Pollard EL, Kirby JK, Audhya T. Evidence-Based Recommendations for an Optimal Prenatal Supplement for Women in the U.S., Part Two: Minerals. Nutrients. 2021 May 28;13(6):1849. doi: 10.3390/nu13061849.
