Vitamins Needed by Pregnant Women

when you are pregnant you need to eat an additional 300 calories than you normally eat  as you are eating for two and your baby needs the necessary nutrients for the fetus development, mentally and physically.

Aside from the proper nutrients you need when you are pregnant the following are essential for the healthy foods for pregnant women.

Nutrition during pregnancy is important. Pregnant women's food has an affect on the pregnancy, on the fetal development and also on the health of the mother and child.

The foods a pregnant woman eat are the main source of the nutrients for the baby. But what foods should pregnant women eat?

It is important for pregnant women to understand what kind of food is best for them and their baby.

Calcium - A substantial transfer of calcium occurs between the mother and the fetus throughout pregnancy, allowing the baby's bone and teeth formation. In the first six months, the mother stores up calcium in her own bones. When its skeletal growth reaches its peak in the last three months, the fetus draws on the mother's store. This is when the consumption of high calcium-containing foods such as milk and milk products must be increased, since a calcium deficiency will damage the mother's teeth and make her bones brittle.

Calcium intake is very important for pregnant women as the baby you are carrying get some nutrients form you depleting your own supply of nutrients. The baby needs to develop in your womb fully in terms of physical development and Calcium is needed for it. Osteoporosis is a consequence of lack of calcium. According to the US Recommended Daily Allowance, when one is pregnant she needs to take 1000 mg of Calcium per day. You need to eat and also drink foods which are rich in calcium everyday.

folic acid - This vitamin promotes the development of the fetal central nervous system and prevents developmental defects of the neural tube ( spina bifida ). Folic acid is contained in vegetables, wheat germ, tropical fruits, and in eggs. However, routine nutrition does not always supply enough folic acid (vitamin B9) to meet the requirements of a pregnant woman. Additional folic acid intake is necessary in the months before pregnancy and during the first trimester.

Iron  - The demand for iron, essential for blood formation, is also increased during pregnancy because the mother's blood volume increases, and the fetal red blood cells have to be developed. Iron is available in meat, fish, egg yolk, whole-grain products, and vegetables. Iron of plant origin is not as well assimilated as iron of animal origin. However, if you ingest vitamin C from raw food during the same meal, iron is more easily absorbed.

And much more beneficial vitamins needed by pregnant women

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