Deficiencies cause the baby's growth to slow and can lead to miscarriage or birth defects. Nature's Prenatal includes 800 mcg of folic acid. B12 helps to use protein and is necessary for growth. A deficiency of biotin leads to slow growth. It regulates the heart beat.
Studies show that many pregnant women are low in magnesium.
Magnesium can prevent premature labor and preeclampsia. It helps produce elastin which prevents the tissues and skeleton from being stiff and fragile. This mineral keeps the skin, hair and nails healthy. Recent research has shown that children who died of sudden infant death syndrome were low in iodine. Mothers deficient in zinc are more likely to have a baby with malformities or behavioral disturbances.