B vitamins, more commonly known as B complex vitamins are extremely important for a person’s overall health. Each B vitamin has its own series of health benefits that makes it a necessity. That is why prenatal vitamins are so important during pregnancy, they make sure that the expecting mother stays healthy as well as the developing fetus.
There are actually 8 B complex vitamins which each play an important role during pregnancy, especially during the first and third trimesters. You can absorb B vitamins via supplemental pills, but it is recommended that you receive them through your food.
All About Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is known as cobalamin. It plays a vital role in maintaining the health of the expecting mother’s nervous system. When vitamin B12 is combined with folic acid during pregnancy, it can help prevent spinal diseases such as, spina bifida and other central nervous system birth defects.
Best Sources of Vitamin B12
Typically, you can find vitamin B12 in fortified foods such as, soy, soy milk, eggs, fish, poultry, and milk. You should try to ingest 2.6 mcg of cobalamin every day. You can also find vitamin B12 in some natural food sources:
- Wild Salmon
- Soy Milk or Soy Products (fortified with B12 on the label)
- Shrimp
- Grass-fed Beef Liver or Tenderloin
- Yogurt
- Fortified Cereals
- Red Meat
- Swiss Cheese
- Milk
- Cottage Cheese
- Cod
What Vitamin B12 Does for Pregnancy
Cobalamin has a lot of specific health benefits:
- Vital for the fetus’s neural tube formation, spine, and brain development.
- When vitamin B12 is combined with vitamin B9 (folate) it creates DNA synthesis and red blood cells.
- Improves the development and functioning of your child’s brain, blood cells, and nerves.
- Regulates your stress levels, mood, and energy by helping your body to metabolize fats, proteins, and carbs.
