Prenatal Vitamins for Each Step of Pregnancy
October 5, 2015
The needs of pregnant women vary, and can sometimes change during pregnancy and post-pregnancy. To help women obtain optimal nutrition, the Prenate® Vitamin Family offers supplement choices specifically tailored to a range of needs throughout pregnancy.
Preconception
Taking prenatal vitamins before pregnancy helps build nutritional reserves to better support the needs of a pregnant woman and her growing baby. In fact, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends that daily DHA and folic acid intake start in preconception.1 Both of these nutrients are critical in the very early development of a fetus, so it’s important for moms to have the levels necessary to support growth and development.
- Prenate Pixie® is a small prenatal vitamin sized for easy swallowing, which may be more tolerable for women in preconception and early pregnancy who are not used to taking a tablet, pill or softgel daily. Plus, Prenate Pixie® has a mighty supply of robust nutrients to carry women through pregnancy and postpartum. This small prenatal vitamin contains 200 mg of DHA and 1 mg of folate.
Pregnancy
The recommended dosage for many vitamins and minerals increases during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all women consume 600 IU of vitamin D during pregnancy.2,3 It’s important to consider options for nutritional support to help promote healthy, fetal development.
- Prenate Mini® is a small and complete prenatal vitamin with 14 nutrient forms. This mineral-rich formula meets or exceeds daily values of folic acid, iron, iodine and vitamins B6, B12, C, and D3 for pregnant and lactating women. Plus, Prenate Mini® contains more DHA than any other leading branded prescription prenatal vitamin.4-18
- Prenate® Enhance is an enhanced supplement for women seeking high nutrient benefits. It contains high levels of vitamin D as well as a more absorbable form of calcium, calcium formate (Formical®).
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding requires increased nutritional intake to restore the mother’s reserves and ultimately, to support the growth of her infant.19,20 Proper diet is important, because nutrients are preferentially partitioned to mammary glands at the expense of the mother’s reserves. Vitamin supplementation postpartum can help a mother replenish her reserves.
Supplemental probiotics may also help support gastrointestinal and immune health in baby and mom. A recent study found that for colicky, breastfed babies, the duration of crying time was significantly reduced with probiotics.21,22 After a cesarean birth, probiotics can also help restore good bacteria eradicated by antibiotics, and assist in the healthy colonization the gut of newborns who did not pass through the birth canal.23,24
- Prenate® Restore is the first and only postpartum vitamin with probiotics. It is designed to meet the needs of breastfeeding moms, but is strong enough to support mothers throughout pregnancy.
Nutritional Support for Mom and Baby
Even with a careful diet, it is difficult for most women to take in the amount of nutrients recommended for a healthy pregnancy.[FN] Prescription prenatal vitamins can help cover the nutritional gaps. The Prenate® Vitamin Family offers nutritional support for mothers and their babies for every step of pregnancy and after delivery. Ask your doctor if the Prenate® Vitamin Family is right for you. Click here to learn more about the Prenate® Vitamin Family.
