Is my prenatal vitamin enough? The idea of taking one pill that will take care of all those extra nutrient needs to support all the activity in your womb sounds too good to be true. However, most nutritionists will tell you that if you are not able to get all of those extra nutrients out of your diet alone, then a prenatal vitamin is just the ticket. It can also be very helpful if you are having a tough time keeping food down because of nausea. However, don't let the prenatal vitamins substitute healthy eating and the daily goal of getting all the recommended calcium, folate, vitamin B, iron, etc. The prenatal vitamin should be used in addition to healthy eating, not as a substitute. Can I drink herbal tea? Even though herbal teas are advertised as natural, safe, and healthy, they are not regulated as drugs are and they are not necessarily safe. Growing evidence suggests some herbs may be harmful to pregnant women. They are best avoided, though if you do choose to drink herbal teas, stick to those with ingredients found in an ordinary diet, such as cinnamon, orange, lemon, and apple. Click here to read more. Am I getting enough folic acid? If yours is a planned pregnancy, hopefully you have been taking a daily multivitamin containing at least 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid or an over-the-counter prenatal vitamin, which has 800 mcg. Now that you are pregnant, you'll need at least 600 mcg daily, although many doctors recommend 800 mcg. Most doctors will recommend taking a supplement, as well as, eating plenty of folate-rich foods such as leafy green vegetables, chicken or beef liver, lentils or cereal, etc. When you drink alcohol your baby is drinking it too. Therefore, you should avoid all forms of alcohol when you are pregnant. This includes beer, wine and hard liquor. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it quickly reaches the baby through the blood stream. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy may result in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, lower birth weight, physical deformities, mental retardation, and motor development complications. There is no data to support a safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Therefore, medical experts recommend avoiding alcohol completely during your pregnancy. Click here to read more. What are good snack ideas? It's break time at work. The lure of the high-fat donuts and sweet rolls at work is almost impossible to resist. However, with a little planning, a more healthful choice can be made that will still satisfy your taste buds. A great thing to do is pack your coffee break "treat" while you are making your lunch in the morning or the night before. Ideas include:
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