It's one of the most common questions pregnant women ask: When should I start taking prenatal vitamins? Prenatal vitamins are like an insurance policy while you're pregnant. Sure, you want to eat right and consume all the necessary vitamins and minerals to grow a healthy baby. Sometimes, though, not being aware of what exactly you should be eating, morning sickness and, yes, bizarre food cravings can make that difficult. There are also some vitamin needs that are nearly impossible to meet without huge changes to your diet. This is when a prenatal vitamin can be effective. Packed with almost everything your baby needs to be healthy and develop, a prenatal vitamin taken daily can fill in those nutritional gaps.
Why Wait for Pregnancy?
Taking a prenatal vitamin before you even become pregnant is highly recommended. This is because a prenatal vitamin prepares your body for what it's about to undertake: growing another human being. Folic acid, which should definitely be in the prenatal vitamin that you choose, is especially important during the period before conception. Folic acid can help to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Studies show that folic acid may decrease a woman's risk of miscarriage, as well as prevent cleft lip, cleft palate or heart problems in babies. Although you can find folic acid in some foods you eat, including cereal, pasta, bread and rice, it may not be enough. Your body breaks down folic acid found in supplements more easily than that found naturally in food.
Because of the importance of folic acid for unborn children and the fact that half of all pregnancies are unplanned, the US Public Health Service recommends that all women of childbearing age get at least 400mcg of folic acid every day. That means it's never too early to start preparing your body for the task of childbearing by taking a prenatal vitamin.
Supplement the Supplements
In addition to a prenatal vitamin, make sure that you're getting plenty of calcium while you're pregnant. Because calcium is bulky, many prenatal vitamin manufacturers don't include enough, if any, of this important supplement in their vitamins. Pregnant women require 1,000mg of calcium a day; most prenatal vitamins do not exceed 200 to 300mg of calcium. If you're not consuming enough calcium through your diet, your body will take it from your bones, which can contribute to osteoporosis down the road.
Your body will absorb more calcium from food during the last two trimesters of pregnancy and during breastfeeding. So what foods should you consume for calcium? Dairy products are the best source, such as milk, cheese (make sure it's hard) and yogurt. Dark, leafy green vegetables also have calcium, as do some fortified foods, such as cereal and orange juice.
If you're not taking a prenatal vitamin already, talk to your doctor as soon as you're thinking about becoming pregnant so that she can help you choose supplements that are right for you.
 | Prenatal vitamins are not a substitute for a healthy diet during pregnancy, but they can help you get recommended daily levels of vitamins and minerals that would be hard to achieve in the average diet. |
 | For high-risk pregnancies, a perinatologist's specialized care offers advantages over the generalized care an obstetrician provides. |
So you found out you're pregnant, Congratulations! But what comes next? First off, of course you're going to want to make an OB/GYN appointment, however don't just go with any OB. Ask around from your friends and family, and ask about their personal experiences with their OB. |
At one point and time all first time mothers to be are in unchartered territory. As a new mother to be, you rely on the expertise of your OB/GYN to ensure that you have a safe and healthy delivery. There are some circumstances that are unavoidable and no OB/GYN can foresee, however, there are things that can be avoided if the OB/GYN is doing their job properly. |
Perhaps most famous for its role in preventing birth defects, folic acid (known as folate when found in foods) has many functions. In fact, this member of the B family of vitamins is so important that experts consider it brain food. |
