How to choose a Prenatal Vitamin with Dr. Azelia Brown

How to choose a prenatal vitamin (PNV) with pharmacist Dr. Azelia Brown

Fast Facts

-IF YOU ARE OF CHILDBEARING AGE YOU SHOULD BE TAKING A PNV

-MOST WOMEN (97%) TAKE A PNV BUT ONLY AFTER THEY ARE FOUND TO BE PREGNANT

-TO AVOID THE DELAY IF YOU ARE NOT PREGNANT START TAKING A PNV TODAY

Why do we need a prenatal vitamin?

-VITAMINS & MINERALS ARE NEEDED FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

-THERE ARE 13 IMPORTANT VITAMINS: BACKED OR IN OTHER WORDS VITAMINS B (DIFFERENT ONES) A, C, K, E, D.

-APART FROM VITAMIN D, WHICH WE GET FROM SUNLIGHT, MOST VITAMINS COME FROM OUR DIET.

-DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE WORLD, OR YOUR ETHNICITY IT IS QUITE COMMON FOR PEOPLE TO BE LOW IN VITAMIN D (1 BILLION IN DEFICIT)

-DEPENDING ON YOUR DIET YOU MAY BE LOW IN FOLIC ACID (VITAMIN B9).

-THESE VITAMINS ARE IMPORTANT IN PREGNANCY.

-YOU CAN BOOST YOUR LEVELS BY TAKING A VITAMIN SUPPLEMENT IRON

-ANOTHER COMPONENT OF MOST PNVS IS IRON -IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA IS COMMON IN PREGNANCY

-AS IRON NEEDS INCREASE IN PREGNANCY (40-45% BLOOD VOLUME)

-SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF PLACENTA AND FETUS

-SOURCES – MEAT, FISH, BEANS, LEGUMES, BLACK STRAP MOLASSES

-RECOMMENDED 27 MG DAILY

-IF ANEMIC YOUR PROVIDER WILL RECOMMEND ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION THAT SHOULD BE PAIRED WITH VITAMIN C TO INCREASE ABSORPTION

                                                                          DHA

-AN OMEGA-3 FATTY ACID

-IMPORTANT FOR FETAL VISUAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

-DEMANDS INCREASED IN LAST TRIMESTER

-RECOMMENDED 300 MG DAILY

-EAT 2 SERVINGS OF SAFE/LOW MERCURY FISH (WILD CAUGHT SALMON, SHRIMP)

                                                      Folic Acid Shout Out

-PREVENTS NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS -SEVERE BIRTH DEFECTS OF THE BRAIN & THE SPINE -SUCH AS SPINA BIFIDA & ANENCEPHALY

-400 MCG OF FOLIC ACID IS RECOMMENDED FOR MOST

-4 MG FOR OTHERS DEPENDING ON MEDICAL HISTORY

-START 1 MONTH PRIOR TO CONCEPTION

-HAVE CONVERSATION WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDER

                                                        Choline Shout Out

-REDUCES NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS

-INDEPENDENT EFFECT REGARDLESS OF FOLIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION

-IMPROVES COGNITION, ATTENTION SPAN, MEMORY AND PROBLEM SOLVING (APA, 2023)

-BEST SOURCE ARE EGG YOLKS, BEEF LIVER, BEEF, SALMON

-RECOMMEND 450 MG -Nature Made PNV with Folic Acid + DHA+ Choline - Women's Prenatal Gummy Vitamin | Nature Made®

                                                How to choose???

-A healthy, well-balanced diet in combination with prenatal vitamins is the best way to ensure that you get all your necessary daily vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids.

-As with any over-the-counter dietary supplement or medication, choosing a prenatal vitamin is a discussion to be had with your healthcare provider.

                                                          Pro Tips

-Let provider know the type of PNV that you are tak