Abstract

In order to maintain her health, a pregnant woman requires higher amounts of nutrients than a non-pregnant woman. Prenatal multivitamins are commonly suggested as a source for these essential nutrients. Synthetic multivitamins provide a pregnant woman with the reassurance that she is consuming the daily recommended amount of nutrients that will keep her and her developing baby healthy. Not commonly known is the unsettling fact that prenatal multivitamins can be potentially damaging to a mother and her developing baby. Contributors to this potential harm are the unlisted ingredients within these synthetic multi-vitamins and the risk of the actual amount of vitamins present being higher or lower than the labeled amount. Because of this inconsistency, a pregnant woman risks consuming unknowingly more or less than her daily recommended amount of nutrients. If maternal nutrient intake falls below or exceeds optimum levels, fetal growth and development and or the mother’s health can be compromised, sometimes severely. The uncertainty of the contents and effects of prenatal multivitamins and the importance of maternal nutrient intake reinforces the significance of a healthy well-balanced diet. Essential nutrients are most easily absorbed from whole foods, rather than from synthetic multivitamins. In addition to better absorption fractions of many nutrients, whole foods offer a reliable source of nutrients at amounts and types consistent with the need for these nutrients. Therefore, in order for a pregnant woman to be confident she is consuming her daily recommended amount of nutrients responsible for keeping her and her developing baby healthy, she should consume a balanced diet of whole foods, largely from plant sources. In order for a pregnant woman to feel confident in the food choices she is making to ensure her and her developing baby’s health, she needs dietary information in an easy and accessible form.

How to Cite