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Planning

Why take a pregnancy vitamin?

Young woman's hand holding pill

This article may help answer:

Why does my baby need folate or folic acid?

What supplements should I take before conception?

How do I get enough nutrients for my baby?

Which pregnancy multivitamin should I use?

Did you know that to best support your baby’s development it’s important to have adequate stores of folate in the first days and weeks after conception, before you even know you are pregnant? That’s one of the reasons guidelines recommend you start taking a pregnancy supplement at least a month before you start trying for a baby. Another reason is that a supplement helps provide you with nutrients and antioxidants to support your increased needs during pregnancy. 

Find out more:

    How does Elevit Pre-conception and Pregnancy multivitamin help meet your increased needs during pre conception and pregnancy?

    Elevit Pre-conception & Pregnancy is a specialist pregnancy supplement formulated to help meet your increased nutritional needs when you are trying to conceive as well as when you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Elevit Pre-conception and Pregnancy multivitamin contains 800mcg folic acid, 220mcg iodine and 60mg of elemental iron. A study7 showed that the 800mcg folic acid included in Elevit helped achieve blood protective levels of folate in just four weeks. 

    What about my developing baby?

    Even with the best intentions, it can be challenging to get enough of essential vitamins and minerals through diet alone. For example, your baby will need folic acid from very soon after conception. Without a supplement, you would need to eat the equivalent of 700g of cooked spinach or 15 slices of bread to get enough through food sources.

    The Ministry of Health recommends that you take a supplement of at least 150mcg a day if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. (Women with pre-existing thyroid conditions should seek advice from their doctor before taking a supplement.)

    Elevit Pre-conception and Pregnancy multivitamin contains 800mcg of folic acid and 220mcg of iodine and is designed to meet the increased nutritional needs throughout pre-conception, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

    What’s so crucial about folic acid?

    Folate, the nutritional form of folic acid, plays a critical role in the development of an unborn baby’s central nervous system. 

    It’s important to have adequate stores of folate before you even know you are pregnant

     

    During the first few weeks of your pregnancy, before most women find out that they’re pregnant, your baby develops a neural tube, which then forms the brain and spinal cord. You need enough folate in your system at this stage to help prevent neural tube defects and to aid the development of your baby’s central nervous system.

    What’s so crucial about iodine

    Iodine helps with the development of the brain and nervous system of your unborn baby. Pregnancy increases your need for iodine, and your developing baby is solely dependent on you for an adequate supply.

    You’ve read advice on:

    Why folic acid is essential when you are trying to get pregnant

    What nutrients aid fertility

    When to start taking a pregnancy supplement

    See the pre-pregnancy checklist

    Read more on:

    Sex & getting pregnant 

    Preparing for pregnancy 

    Diet & getting pregnant 

    Coming off contraception 

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    Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. Vitamin and mineral supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet. If you have a baby with a neural tube defect/Spina Bifida, seek specific medical advice. If symptoms persist, see your healthcare professional. Elevit Preconception & Pregnancy Multivitamin contains (per tablet) 800 mcg folic acid, 60 mg iron, 220 mg iodine plus a range of other beneficial vitamins and minerals - For full active ingredients, see the label. If you have any pre-existing conditions, or are on any medications always talk to your healthcare professional before use. Bayer New Zealand Ltd., Auckland.