Taking good care of yourself during pregnancy is a priority as the choices you make during this special time can impact your baby’s health. Here are some tips to make sure you make the most of your pregnancy:

Iron intake

It’s easy to wind up with low iron levels during pregnancy, particularly in the second and third trimesters. The routine blood tests you carry out will reveal any such deficiency – in this case, try increasing the amount of fibre in your diet to reduce the likelihood of side effects, such as constipation.

Morning sickness

While nausea and vomiting are common when you’re expecting, there are some things you can do to reduce the effects. Try eating dry toast or plain crackers in the morning, while ginger, in the form of tea, ale or biscuits, can also help reduce nausea. Peppermint tea may settle your stomach and stay away from greasy and fatty foods as they may aggravate sickness.

Healthy eating

One of the most important things you can do for you and your baby’s health is to start eating a balanced diet now. Eating a variety of healthy foods will help ensure you both receive the nutrients you need. If you feel you’re not managing to eat well and not getting all the essential vitamins and minerals you need from your current diet, you may benefit from a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement. One specially formulated for use during conception can help make sure you and your baby are getting all the nutrients you need.

Essential micronutrients

Folic acid is necessary for the healthy development of your baby’s spinal cord. Ideally, you need to take a 400mcg supplement daily at least three months before you conceive, continuing each day until the end of week 12 of your pregnancy.

Zinc contributes to normal fertility, and is important for the production of DNA; calcium, vitamin D and magnesium are all needed for the formation and maintenance of healthy bones; iron and vitamin B12 contribute to healthy blood formation; vitamin C helps maintain a healthy immune system during pregnancy.

Choose the right Centrum vitamins formula for you. Centrum Pregnancy Care includes folic acid, zinc, calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin C and iodine, while Centrum Pregnancy Care Plus Omega3 includes all this plus Omega 3.