Posts filed under ‘vitamins’
Vitamin A and Pregnancy
The acceptable dosage of Vitamin A during pregnancy can be confusing to figure out. Vitamin A comes in two main forms: preformed (retinoid form) and beta-carotene (which converts to the retinol form within the body). Preformed Vitamin A is found in meats and fortified foods. Beta-carotene is found in fruits and vegetables. Multivitamins (including prenatal vitamins) may contain either form of Vitamin A.
Too much of the preformed Vitamin A can lead to birth defects and liver toxicity. This risk is highest during the first few weeks of pregnancy. You may consume as much beta-carotene as you wish at any stage of pregnancy. Beta-carotene only converts to the retinol form of Vitamin A when needed. Because of this built-in limiting mechanism, you cannot overdose on beta-carotene.
When looking for a prenatal vitamin, check both the source and amounts of Vitamin A to ensure that you do not exceed the recommended limitations (10,000 IU) during pregnancy. You must also keep in mind the amount of Vitamin A that you receive through your diet. Promise Prenatal vitamins Stage 1 contain no Vitamin A for the pre-conception period through the first trimester. Stages 2 and 3 contain Vitamin A in the beta-carotene form to help nurture the baby’s growth and maintain the mother’s health.
Vitamin A helps maintain eye health and fight off infections and helps your body rebuild and recover after pregnancy. Your baby benefits from Vitamin A through cell growth, eye and health development, fat metabolism and bone growth.
Prescription Prenatal Vitamins
When it comes to vitamins, we often think that prescription vitamins are superior to OTC simply because your doctor prescribed them. The truth is that just because they are prescription does not mean that they are better. No vitamin is FDA approved because vitamins are categorized as “medical food” by the FDA. There are, however, United States Pharmacopoeia standards for prescription vitamins. This means that they must meet certain quality and content standards to become prescription vitamins. However, a study of prescription prenatal vitamins conducted by the University of Maryland at Baltimore, School of Pharmacy, only 3 out of 9 prescription prenatal vitamins were found to release the amount of folic acid that they claimed to contain. If your prescription prenatal vitamin doesn’t give you all the folic acid you need (folic acid is a vital nutrient for pregnancy), then how can you trust it to provide the other nutrients it promises?
The main difference in prescription and OTC prenatal vitamins is the amount of folic acid. Most OTC vitamins have 400 mcg of folic acid, while prescriptions have 1,000 mcg. The recommended dose of folic acid for pregnancy is 400 mcg. Prescription prenatals simply provide more than enough folic acid (assuming that it actually releases as much as it claims). Iron is the other ingredient that differs with OTC vs. prescription prenatal vitamins. Most prescription prenatals contain a high dose of iron, which is often hard on a woman’s stomach. Some OTC prenatals contain no iron as a way to reduce nausea related to the supplement. Iron is important, but a woman can reduce her iron intake during the first trimester to alleviate nausea and morning sickness.
Promise Prenatal vitamins are not prescription vitamins, yet they are manufactured to the same high standards (USP) as prescription vitamins. There are three formulas: before pregnancy through the first trimester; second and third trimesters; and after pregnancy/breastfeeding. The formulas are designed to accommodate the nutritional needs of women at each stage. Stage one contains less iron to reduce nausea. The iron is a micro-encapsulated form of ferrous fumarate which slows the absorption and reduces nausea.
Prenatal vitamins should contain a low amount of Vitamin A (which can cause birth defects if too much is consumed during the first trimester). Calcium is an essential nutrient for pregnancy, but no prenatal will contain the entire recommended daily intake. You should talk with your doctor to see if you are getting enough calcium from your diet.
Fiber May Prevent Gestational Diabetes
Fiber is known for its ability to help people stay healthy and maintain a healthy weight but it can also help women to reduce their chances of gestational diabetes.
A study of 13,000 female nurses was conducted over a period of eight years. Each of the women gave birth to at least one child in the eight year period. 785 of these women had gestational diabetes. The study found that the women with the highest fiber intake pre-pregnancy also had the lowest occurance of gestational diabetes. In face, every 10 grams of total daily fiber intake reduced the risk of gestational diabetes by 26%.
The women mostly obtained their fiber through cereals and fruit, but it also came from whole grains and vegetables. It is unknown how fiber prevents gestational diabetes.
Women who are planning on becoming pregnant should follow a healthy diet and begin taking a prenatal vitamin to assure proper nutritional intake.
Sources: NBC5i health news
The Basics of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the most natural and powerful way to nurture, feed and bond with your infant.However, many people do not understand that breastfeeding is hard work!It takes time, effort, concentration and above all, patience.Your baby has to learn to breastfeed – she has the instinct to suck, but does not know yet that a nipple produces food or how to get it out.Check to see if the hospital that you will be delivering has a lactation center that offers breastfeeding classes.Your first time breastfeeding your new baby will be at the hospital too, so a lactation consultant can come in very handy.
The first thing you need to know about breastfeeding is that the first milk produced by your body is not really milk at all – it’s a thicker, concentrated substance called colostrum.The operative word here is concentrated– it does not come in large amounts.A new baby will want to suck all the time and your breasts will be producing very little in the beginning – a new mother can easily have feelings of frustration and inadequacy if she feels that she is not making enough milk for her baby.It is important to let your baby breastfeed as long and as often as she needs at first.This will help establish your milk supply but unfortunately, in solving one problem you have unwittingly created another one.
Your nipples are most likely going to become sore and sometimes can be very dry and cracked, resulting in excruciating pain during breastfeeding.If pain becomes too severe, you may need to see your doctor because there could be an underlying medical cause for the pain.There are several things you can do to alleviate sore nipples, such as using lanolin or ice packs to help soothe the sensitive, and sometimes raw, skin.As tempting as it may be to substitute a breast feeding for a bottle (even just once), it is important that you continue to only breastfeed if at all possible for two reasons – a baby can become “nipple confused” because it is easier to get milk from a bottle than it is a human nipple and you will be left quite literally high and dry because she will prefer to take the bottle over your breasts.Without help, breastfeeding can become a frustrating and painful cycle that usually does not have a happy ending.If you find yourself struggling with breastfeeding, there are people who can help – just don’t be afraid to ask!
The number of women who breastfeed has risen over the past few years. Increased education about the benefits of breastfeeding, including boosted immunity and lower chances of obesity in later years may have contributed to this rising trend. Women can boost their breast milk by taking a prenatal vitamin and DHA supplement while nursing. You can read more about the increase in mothers who breastfeed in this article.
Diabetes During Pregnancy
Many pregnant women and mothers are familiar with gestational diabetes. This temporary form of diabetes, usually lasting from pregnancy month 5 or 6 through delivery, affects roughly 4% of all women. Complications for the baby such as high birth weight, jaundice, and low blood sugar levels may result from gestational diabetes. The rate of gestational diabetes has remained steady in the last few years. Pre-pregnancy diabetes rates, however, are on the rise.
Women who have pre-existing type 1 or 2 diabetes when they conceive face a different set of complications for pregnancy than do those who develop gestational diabetes. Women who have diabetes during the first few weeks of pregnancy face greater chances of miscarriage. Diabetes also increases the risk of stillbirth, birth defects, and high birth weight.
From the Washington Post:
A study published in the May, 2008 issue of Diabetes Care included 175,249 women who gave birth from 1999 to 2005 in southern California. In 1999, the rate of preexisting diabetes was 0.81 per 100 births; by 2005, that number had jumped to 1.82 per 100 births. In 1999, of all pregnancies affected by diabetes, 10 percent were due to preexisting diabetes, while 90 percent were due to gestational diabetes. In 2005, 21 percent of women had preexisting diabetes, compared to 79 percent with gestational diabetes, according to the study.
The researchers also noted some differences in race and age. Black, Hispanic and Asian/Pacific women were more likely to have diabetes before birth, and teens and women over 40 experienced dramatic jumps in their pre-pregnancy diabetes rates. Teen mothers saw a fivefold increase in preexisting diabetes, while mothers over 40 saw a 40 increase in the rate of pre-pregnancy diabetes.
Experts blame much of the increase on the rising trend of overweight and obesity.
“We saw an increase in type 2 diabetes. That’s due to the increase in overweight and obesity. Also, type 2 is being diagnosed at younger ages,” said Lawrence, who suggested that women do whatever they can to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by eating a healthful diet, maintaining a proper weight and being active. She said there’s no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes.
Dr. Stuart Weiss, an endocrinologist at the New York University Langone Medical Center, said he “was surprised that the incidence of gestational diabetes wasn’t up.”
For women who know they have diabetes before pregnancy, Weiss advised: “Control your blood glucose levels as aggressively as possible. Control isn’t easy to do, because you have to have adequate nutrition and still control your blood sugar.”
But, he added, it’s crucial to try, because it may help prevent some of the serious complications associated with diabetes.
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Women who are concerned about their health during pregnancy should consider taking a prenatal vitamin. Vitamins before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and after pregnancy can keep a woman in optimal health. Prenatal DHA (omega 3) is also a good idea to keep your body and baby healthy.
Vitamin B6 during pregnancy
Women who experience morning sickness during pregnancy often find relief in taking a B6 supplement. No one knows for sure why this works, but the supplementation of B6 has stood the test of time for effectiveness at treating pregnancy-related nausea. Doctors first started prescribing B6 as a morning sickness remedy in the 1940s. Numerous studies since then have shown that taking a higher dose of B6 does have a lessening effect on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
In a 1991 trial of 59 women B6 proved to be effective at reducing symptoms of morning sickness. Thirty-one patients received a 25 mg dose of B6 every eight hours for a total of three days. The other 28 patients received a placebo on the same schedule. Before the trial 15 of the 31 patients who received the B6 treatment suffered from nausea and vomiting. After the three day trial, only 8 patients still vomited. Of the 28 on the placebo 10 vomited as a result of morning sickness. After three days on the placebo, 15 had vomiting as a symptom of their morning sickness. [source]
A study performed in China also proved that higher levels of B6 can increase the chance on conception and lower the risk of early term miscarriage. The results were published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
The study found that women with B6 levels above 30 nanomoles per liter had a 40% greater chance of conception and lowered their early miscarriage rate by 30%. Women with lower levels of B6 were negatively impacted by their deficiency. Alayne Ronnenberg, author of the study explains
“We found that poor preconception vitamin B6 status was associated with increased risk of early pregnancy loss and reduced probabilities of conception and clinical pregnancy in a prospective cohort of young Chinese women.”
These two studies confirm the ideas that taking a B6 supplement during pregnancy can reduce morning sickness and its symptoms, and taking B6 before conception can improve both the chance of conception and the health of the pregnancy. Many prenatal vitamins contain B6. Look for a vitamin that contains a high dose of B6. Promise Prenatal vitamins contain 19 mg of B6, an ideal level for both women in the preconception stage and women who are pregnant.
Sources:
Better B6 Status Linked to Better Pregnancy Outcomes
Losing Weight After Pregnancy
During pregnancy, most women gain 25-35 pounds. After giving birth you will naturally lose some of the weight (the weight of the baby and placenta for sure). Many women expect to lose the remaining weight quickly, within 6 weeks, but this is not the norm. By watching celebrity moms we begin to think that we will be back in our pre-pregnancy jeans in no time. The truth is it isn’t natural, or healthy, to lose the weight that quickly.
Women who breastfeed tend to hold on to an extra 10 or so pounds while breastfeeding. The strain put on your body by nourishing another person requires extra calories. It is recommended that women wait 6 weeks after giving birth to resume a workout routine. Women who had a c-section may need to wait longer. Eating a healthy diet after pregnancy will help to shed those extra pounds without much effort. It is also important to eat healthy foods because your body requires a healthy balance of nutrients to recover from pregnancy. You should continue to take your prenatal vitamin after delivery and during breastfeeding to provide your body with the extra nutrients it requires.
Listen to your body and don’t deny your cravings. Your body knows what nutrients it needs. Talk with your doctor about exercise to be sure that your body is ready. Start slowly with walking or swimming. As your body adjusts to the increased activity you can begin to add in weights or start running.
For more information on post-pregnancy weight loss visit these sources:
The joy of motherhood goes hand-in-hand with the battle to lose those pesky pregnancy pounds
Iron during Pregnancy – An Important Supplement
What causes that “pregnancy glow” that so many women seem to have while pregnant? Poetically speaking, the glow is from the knowledge and anticipation of the life growing inside of a woman’s body. Technically it can be linked to an increase in blood volume. Women typically see a gain of 40-50% in blood levels during pregnancy.
This increased blood volume boosts blood flow to the uterus and kidneys. The increase also compensates for the blood lost during delivery. Blood pressure can decrease during pregnancy because of the increased volume.
Anemia, too few red blood cells, can develop during pregnancy. The red blood cells can become diluted as a result of the increased blood. The fetus uses the mother’s red blood cells to aid in development. This is especially important during the third trimester.
Anemia may manifest itself in the following ways: fatigue, dizziness, pale skin, rapid heartbeat, or difficulty breathing. Anemia is diagnosed with blood testing and is not restricted to pregnancy. Anyone can develop anemia, but it is twice as likely in women as in men.
The best prevention for anemia is taking an iron supplement. Many women have a hard time tolerating iron during pregnancy, so it is important to try different products until you find one that works for you.
An easy way to prevent anemia is to start storing iron before you become pregnant. Many women do not realize the advantages of taking a prenatal vitamin before conception. Taking this vitamin will help your body to store up vital nutrients for pregnancy. Iron is stored in bone marrow and any iron stored up before pregnancy can be used during pregnancy to aid in fetal development.
It is important to continue to take iron during pregnancy. If you have a hard time tolerating the iron in your prenatal vitamin, try another prenatal that might be better tolerated. Promise Prenatal vitamins contain micro-encapsulated iron, which tends to be gentler on the stomach. The iron is released over time, which alleviates the number one cause of iron-related nausea–it hits the stomach all at once.
Another important nutrient for pre-pregnancy is Folic Acid. By taking 600 mcg of Folic Acid before and during pregnancy you are greatly lowering your baby’s chances of neural tube defects like spina bifida. Folic Acid and Iron are often found in the same food types. Many vegans do not receive the nutrients necessary for pregnancy through food alone. Meat, poultry, fish, grain products, leafy vegetables, and dairy products are important sources of nutrients for pregnancy.
You will typically not know that you are pregnant until after week two. This is another great reason to start taking your prenatal supplement when begin to try to conceive. Very few women get the nutrients they need from food alone.
Over the Counter Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are available in both prescription and OTC formats. So which is best? There is no easy answer because it is different for every woman. Here’s what you need to know:
Prescription prenatal vitamins usually contain 1,000 mcg (1mg) of Folic Acid. OTC prenatal vitamins usually contain anywhere from 400-800 mcg. The recommendation for pregnancy is 400 mcg. It is helpful to get more than 400mcg, but is not necessary.
Prescription prenatal vitamins often contain large doses of iron. Iron is necessary during pregnancy, but often causes nausea. Over the counter prenatal vitamins may contain less iron, which increases the chance of toleration. Micro-encapsulated iron slows down the absorption rate of iron, which can greatly reduce nausea. Promise Prenatal is the only prenatal vitamin we’ve found that contains micro-encapsulated iron.
Many prenatal vitamins available by prescription contain a high amount of Vitamin A. Vitamin A should not be taken in high doses in early pregnancy as it can lead to birth defects. Also, Vitamin A should come from 100% beta carotene. If you are taking a prescription vitamin, check with your doctor to see if the level of Vitamin A is safe for you.
When a vitamin, supplement, or drug is sold by prescription, it must meet FDA standards. This requirement is not in place for over the counter prenatal vitamins. However, some OTC prenatals do adhere to these standards. Promise Prenatal is one such vitamin. You can purchase Promise Prenatal online without a prescription, yet it is manufactured to the same high standards as prescription prenatals.
Prescription prenatal vitamins are packed with nutrients, which means that quite often they are large pills. The size of the pill can affect toleration. Many women have trouble swallowing large pills during pregnancy. Some prenatal vitamins are liquid or chewable, allowing for better toleration.
if you experience any negative side effects when taking a prenatal vitamin, do not give up. You may need to try two or three brands before you find one that works for you. Remember, you are taking the vitamin to improve your growing baby’s health. Find a prenatal, whether it is prescription or OTC that works for you and take it faithfully. You and your baby will be glad you did.
Pregnant Man Thomas Beatie
In case you have been living under a rock and haven’t heard. There’s a pregnant man. Well, sort of. Thomas Beatie was born a woman, but is now legally a man and legally married to a woman. He underwent hormone therapy and had his breasts removed, but kept his reproductive organs. After deciding that he and his wife wanted a child, he was the one to become pregnant. His wife had a hysterectomy several years ago because of medical complications.
Thomas and his wife will be on Oprah today, April 3, 2008.
I hope he is taking his prenatal vitamins. Because regardless of his gender from the waist up, there’s still a baby inside and babies need nutrition. According to Thomas, he is 5 months pregnant. He probably used a pregnancy calculator for his due date.
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