LiveWell Louisiana

Planning Ahead

Prenatal vitamins go a long way in providing benefits for both Mom and baby.
September 9th, 2015 by: Misty Miloto

A recent infographic published by LabDoor — an online review service that helps consumers research, find and buy the best supplements — shows the importance of prenatal vitamins in reducing infant mortality. According to Pasha Gurevich, CEO of LabDoor, an estimated four million babies will be born in the United States over the next year. Of those, one in nine will be born pre-term, a leading cause of developmental delays and neurological disabilities in children. 

According to the infographic, birth defects occur in about 3 percent of all live births and are the second leading cause of infant mortality behind prematurity. They account for 20.9 percent of all infant deaths in the United States. Another key finding is that more than 95 percent of women are deficient in folate — a vitamin that helps reduce the risk of autism spectrum disorder, cleft lip and palate deformities, cardiac disease and neural tube defects in children. To help address the nutrient deficiencies that cause many of these health issues, the U.S. Public Health Service now recommends that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 µg of folic acid daily, and that they should also maintain adequate iron and calcium levels. labdoor.com