Geritol for Pregnancy

When it comes to pregnancy, nothing is more vital to the child’s development than the nutrition they receive and the health of the mother. For many, it is possible to have a balanced diet at every meal. However, there are those who for one reason or other do not receive sufficient nutrients in their bodies. Nutritional supplements have become a common aspect of our nutrition, with supplements being formulated to support all manner of nutritional needs. 

When a person is pregnant, the nutritional needs change due to the growing fetus in the womb. Nutritional supplements for pregnant people are formulated differently from most other supplements to cater for the nutritional needs of the pregnant person and the fetus. These nutritional supplements are commonly known as pre-natal vitamins and they differ from the multivitamin Geritol both in formulation and function. We shall explore these differences in the following article. 

What Is Geritol?

To begin with geritol is a multivitamin range that has several formulations to address a wide range of issues that are very specific. It is produced in two forms, a liquid and a gel capsule. When a person faces nutritional deficiencies due to poor diet, health problems, or lifestyle choices, they will often benefit from multivitamins. It is important to note here that while multivitamins are not medications, it is best to consult a professional healthcare provider to prescribe the dosage one must take for their circumstance.  

Geritol and Pregnancy

When a person is pregnant, typically prenatal vitamins are prescribed because they provide specific nutrients that support the healthy development of the fetus. While this may be the case, there is plenty of misinformation regarding nutrition in pregnancy. 

One such piece of misinformation is that when a person wants to become pregnant, taking Geritol on a regular basis will increase their fertility. The narrative is that an increase in fertility will facilitate the pregnancy to occur sooner rather than later. 

There is no scientific evidence to support this claim, a fact has been corroborated by the manufacturers of Geritol themselves. Besides, when one thinks about it, it does beg the question, why is it that Geritol can have this effect while other multivitamins cannot? 

Taking multivitamins during pregnancy is only recommended when the pregnant person’s diet has not been sufficient in nutrients, or due to the use of nicotine-based products or alcohol. Therefore, multivitamins should never be substituted for prenatal vitamins when a person is pregnant.

Geritol Vitamins Vs. Prenatal Vitamins

Let us discuss the differences between Geritol and prenatal vitamins, beginning with the prenatal vitamins. Prenatal vitamins contain significantly higher levels of iron and folic acid because they are crucial to the development of the fetus and supporting the pregnant person’s own supply of the same. While multivitamins do contain folic acid and iron, the quantity is only sufficient for a person who is not pregnant. 

Folic Acid

Folic acid is central to the healthy development of the neural tube, one of the first things to develop in a fetus. The neural tube is what grows to form the brain and the spinal cord of a person. A healthy neural tube leads to a well developed brain and nervous system. Without a sufficient supply of folic acid, children tend to be born with paralysis in their lower bodies, learning disabilities and may even die while still in the womb. Since this mineral is so vital, healthcare providers will typically recommend that a person who wants to become pregnant begin taking folic acid even three months ahead of becoming pregnant, so as to ‘stock up’ their supply as it were. 

Iron

Oxygen is what keeps us alive. Iron is what helps the cells in the body produce sufficient oxygen. When a person has lowered iron levels in their body, they become anemic and it limits the functionality of various processes in their body. With a proper supply of oxygen, the body is also able to absorb nutrients more efficiently. 

When a person is pregnant an insufficient supply of iron in the blood could lead to negative consequences including poor health, poor nutritional supply to the fetus, poor fetal development, and even premature delivery. A fetus could also suffer poor brain development leading to abnormal brain structure and even autism. 

Risk of Prenatal Vitamins

There is misinformation regarding prenatal vitamins and it does not relate to pregnancy. This particular perspective is that prenatal vitamins can improve a person’s health, with visible results such as thicker hair, higher energy levels, and longer nails. However, when a person is not pregnant, the high levels of folic acid and iron could have negative side-effects. These include, digestive tract problems, nausea, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, and could even prevent the body from processing zinc efficiently. 

In Conclusion

What all this means is that if you determine to eat a nutritionally rich and balanced diet, you will not be required to supplement your diet with multivitamins. Again, if you are pregnant, you must ensure that you take prenatal vitamins for your sake and that of the developing fetus inside you. If you must take multivitamins, do so under the recommendation of a professional healthcare provider, who should prescribe the amount you should take. If you are concerned about your nutrition with regards to family building, contact the team of experts at IVF Fertility Center in any of our locations nationwide. We are more than happy to advise and guide you on the best nutrition suited to your circumstances.