7 Reasons Pregnancy Supplements are so Important for Mum and Bub

For many of us, we only really realise how AMAZING our bodies are when we’re growing babies. What we eat, what we drink, what we use on our skin and how we treat our bodies – these things all seem extra important when we’re housing a human being.

There are so many do’s and don’ts when it comes to pregnancy nutrition that it’s easy to get overwhelmed and to push some of the advice under the rug.  I mean, how can you eat a balanced pregnancy diet when all you can stomach is corn chips and meatballs?

FUN FACT: Australian research showed that only 4 out of 534 pregnant women met these key nutrient requirements for pregnancy through diet alone.

I’ll be the first to admit, my meatball-eating preggo self was NOT one of these four women.

This is one of the many reasons to consider a pregnancy supplement – to help fill any gaps and keep up with the changing requirements in pregnancy and post-partum.

We’ve teamed up with Perdays, the makers of some of the latest pregnancy supplements to hit the market, to uncover why pregnancy supplements are so important.

Not all pregnancy supplements are the same

Perdays pregnancy supplements are created in consultation with a team of leading Australian pregnancy health experts using the latest research findings to optimise the nutritional needs of today’s women.

They are:

• Australian-made
• Specifically formulated for the various stages of pregnancy
• The first of their kind to be made in Australia
• Come in a capsule in a capsule format that works using time delay and PH development technology to ensure the nutrients are absorbed slowly in the correct part of the digestive tract to ensure optimal absorption and benefits.

Perdays have two popular pregnancy supplements – their Pregnancy Probiotics 360 and Vitamin D and their Pregnancy Key Essentials and DHA. 

FREE Pregnancy and Nutrition Course

Perdays is also running their pregnancy diet and nutrition masterclass from the 12th to 17th of April. This is an ideal way to get the facts about nutrition during pregnancy in easy-to-swallow 15 minute classes.

Sign up on their website to secure your spot. Be quick though – the course starts 12th April and you don’t want to miss out!

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1. Prevention of pregnancy problems

There’s no way to guarantee your little one is going to be born perfectly healthy. But there are studies that confirm that certain minerals can prevent problems.

There are two main ones:

• Folic acid: Can prevent neural tube defects which may cause serious abnormalities of the fetal brain and spinal cord.
• Iodine: Can support foetal brain development and future intelligence.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) state that any woman planning a pregnancy or during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, should be taking a prenatal vitamin that contains folate/folic acid and iodine.

Did you know? One in three people have trouble absorbing folic acid and therefore cannot obtain the benefits?

When you’re looking for a supplement make sure you find one with an activated form of folic acid, such as folinic acid.

2. Extra iron for placental and fetal support

Pregnancy vitamins and supplements contain several different vitamins and minerals. Perdays Pregnancy Key Essentials & DHA, for example, have 12 essential pregnancy vitamins and minerals in every capsule.

One of the most important minerals is iron, which is a major player when it comes to making blood to supply oxygen to the fetus and the placenta.

Iron is also great for us human ovens – it can reduce our risk of anaemia which can lead to low red blood cells and extra exhaustion.

3. Helps promote general health and wellbeing for both mum and bub

This includes a healthy brain, a healthy nervous system and a healthy heart. Plus, some pregnancy vitamins may also help to keep your blood sugar and glucose levels under control. This may, in turn, reduce your risk of gestational diabetes. 

The best pregnancy supplements contain minerals such as DHA to support baby’s brain development, B12 to support the role of folate in the body, and calcium to support bone growth.

4. Can support your mood

Okay, so pregnancy isn’t the most stable time, emotionally, in a woman’s life. I’m not going to sugar coat it – you may transform from a blubbering whale to a fire-breathing dragon, then back to a blubbering whale in 3.4 seconds. Most likely because someone touched your chocolate bar or because you think a puppy winked at you.

The emotional highs and lows are all part of the pregnancy fun. But some pregnancy vitamins have been proven to support healthy emotional/mood balance, meaning the mood swings may not be as intense and you will hopefully feel more like yourself for the majority of the day.

Unless, of course, you run into a winking puppy. Then let the waterworks flow!

5. Keeps your ya-ya glowing with glittery new mumma magic

Okay, that’s a bit of a stretch, as there’s no hope in pregnant heck that your vagina is gonna glow. But pregnancy probiotics have been known to help maintain healthy vaginal microflora. 

Pregnancy probiotics are a bit different from a pregnancy multi-vitamin. They are designed to support your digestive system during pregnancy and are especially important during the second and third trimesters. Not only will they keep your gut feeling great, but they can also have a positive impact on your vagina.

6. May reduce occurrences of skin conditions in your baby

Another interesting benefit to pregnancy probiotics is that they may reduce occurrences of symptoms of eczema/dermatitis in healthy children under 2 years of age. 

A study showed that supplementing pregnant and breastfeeding mothers significantly reduced the risk of the baby developing eczema throughout the first 2 years of life, which was maintained until the children in the study turned 10.

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Okay, so now you know the WHY behind the pregnancy supplements. But what’s the best pregnancy supplement out there?

Look for one that:

• Contains all the ingredients listed above (folate, iodine, iron, calcium, zinc, DHA)
• Comes in a capsule form – these are so much easier to swallow and stomach than alternatives
• Is specifically formulated for pregnancy and breastfeeding

Check out Perdays, an Australian-made & owned company that ticks all the above plus more!

What really sets them apart is their nutri-seal capsules. They are the first of their kind to be made here in Australia and essentially are like a capsule in a capsule (or double capsule).

They work using time delay and PH development technology to ensure the nutrients are absorbed slowly in the correct part of the digestive tract to ensure optimal absorption and benefits.

Perdays have two popular pregnancy supplements – their Pregnancy Probiotics 360 and Vitamin D and their Pregnancy Key Essentials and DHA. Find out more about each of the products through the Perdays website. 

*Warning: Do not use if the seal is broken or missing. Vitamins and minerals can only be of assistance if dietary intake is inadequate. Advise your doctor of any medication you take during pregnancy, particularly in your first trimester. If you are concerned about the health of yourself or your baby, talk to your health practitioner. 

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Totally normal! There’s a lot of conflicting information out there and sometimes you just want an easy rundown of what to eat, given to you straight.

Perdays is running just that – a five-day pregnancy diet and nutrition course, delivered by one of Australia’s leading fertility and pregnancy dieticians and completely FREE for Mum Central readers.

Sign up now and you’ll get an exclusive discount on all Perdays products too! 

The course starts 12th April 2021 so sign up now.

The short 15-minute lessons will cover the following topics:

• The foundations of a pregnancy diet
• Powerful proteins
• Fabulous fats
• Slow carbohydrates
• The pregnancy microbiome

If you’re pregnant, then this nutritional guidance is priceless. Knowing that you’re doing the right things to support your baby is so important and will ensure a much healthier and more relaxed pregnancy. Even if you do indulge in a few too many meatballs…

Before taking any pregnancy supplement, please advise your doctor of any medicine you take during pregnancy, particularly in your first trimester. If you are concerned about the health of yourself or your baby, talk to your health care practitioner.

This is a sponsored post for Perdays