There is also this sense of immense responsibility for both of you not only with regards to bringing up the child but all the so-called "PRE-NATAL HASSLES" that would have to be taken care of minutely.
As a 'NEW LIFE' is taking form within your wife's body, a 'SEA OF BIOLOGICAL CHANGES' will also occur inside her! As a result she has to deal with myriad signs and symptoms that might throw her completely 'off the track'! Thus both her physical and mental profile will undergo enormous variations and fluctuations. So the next nine months she needs a lot of extra care and affection to deal with all such changes.
An important aspect of pre-natal care is the 'DIET' of the expectant mother. She should remember that she's not only feeding herself but also another 'little being' who needs extra nourishment for proper growth and development. So the diet must essentially include the right amount of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, salts, water and vitamins. If there is a dearth of or absence of either one of the above mentioned dietary nutrients then the development of the growing fetus will be severely hampered. You have to keep yourself and the baby 'WELL-NOURISHED'!
VITAMINS are referred to as the 'PROTECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF FOOD' biologically and their main function is to make the body disease-resistant as well as control the overall growth and development of the body. So one can understand that vitamins are essential!
Pre-natal vitamins are a hot topic these days. Everyone is touting the benefits of using them prior to getting pregnant to help prevent certain birth defects and continuing them during pregnancy and breastfeeding for continued protection from nutrition deficiencies. Some important aspects about these vitamins:
ü The goal of prenatal vitamins is to supplement your diet not to replace it. Prenatal vitamins work better when you are eating a healthy diet that includes a variety of foods.
ü Prenatal vitamin supplements cannot make up for poor eating habits.
ü Prenatal vitamins should be taken before you become pregnant as the folic acid in the vitamin helps to prevent neural tube defects i.e. defects in spinal cord formation (spina bifida) very early in pregnancy. Intake should be continued throughout pregnancy to ensure that you and your baby are getting the optimal amount of vitamins and minerals.
ü Interestingly, being on a vitamin before becoming pregnant may diminish morning sickness.
ü Folic acid is added to many breads and pastas, and is naturally found in many dark green or orange fruits and vegetables. Studies have found that taking a daily supplement offers more of the protective effect than getting the same amount in the form of food. Therefore, every pregnant woman who eats a healthy diet may benefit from a supplement.
ü The downside to vitamin supplementation-
It's not recommended to take more than one multivitamin a day. For example, there is some evidence that birth defects are more common among babies exposed to large doses of vitamin A.
ü Pre-natal vitamins should be taken only as prescribed or recommended by the doctor. Over-dosage may prove seriously fatal for the fetus.
ü Pre-natal vitamins administered need to dissolve in the stomach quickly enough so that each of the essential nutrients especially folic acid contained in them can be absorbed by the body or else the baby and the mother may not get the protection they are counting on. In such a case the doctor should be consulted who might suggest a different vitamin.
ü In addition to achieving significant protection against birth defects, women who take folic acid supplements during pregnancy have been reported to have fewer infections, and to give birth to babies with higher birth weights and better Apgar scores. (An Apgar score is an evaluation of the well being of a newborn, based on his or her color, crying, muscle tone, and other signs.)
ü Expectant mothers who smoke are likely to take more of these vitamins thinking that the vitamins will negate the effects of smoking on their child. This is a total myth! The best thing is 'no smoking during pregnancy'.
After looking at the several aspects of pre-natal vitamins as mentioned above, one has to conclude that they are absolutely essential for maternal well being during pregnancy.
Thus, with "a pre-natal vitamin supplement you have the best chance of ensuring a happy and healthy pregnancy! Just be careful in selecting a proper one that suits you."