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Vitamins for Pregnancy

Getting Your Daily Dose of Prenatal Vitamins

By Crystal Patriarche

"Food labels are so overwhelming and there is too much on there, you don't need to read half of it," Britvan says. She says that the percentages on the right should not even be looked at. The percentages are based on a 2,000-calorie diet for the general population, and not everyone needs that. Most women need 1,500 to 1,800 calories, so the percentages are very individual, she says.

According to Britvan, the most important thing is serving size and servings per container.

According to Bloom, many of the recommended daily doses of vitamins for women are not that different before, during or after pregnancy. With a few exceptions like folic acid and iron (which both increase during pregnancy), women need and should be cognizant of their diet and vitamin intake on a daily basis. "After pregnancy, getting your energy back is about sleep as much as nutrition, so stick to the same concepts as when you're not pregnant," Bloom says. "Eat often. Food is fuel, so you've got to be eating, and sleep is a big issue. Your body has just gone through some major stuff."

Bloom says women should always try to eat well, sleep well and exercise if possible. "To me, this is the most basic advice women need," she says.

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• Talk about it!