Prenatal vitamins are made for people who are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant. Folic acid is the most important vitamin for pre-pregnancy health.
Prenatal vitamins are supplements that contain daily vitamins and minerals you need before and during your pregnancy.
Folic acid is the most important vitamin to take when planning a pregnancy. Folic acid is a B vitamin that cells in your body need for growing and developing. Taking 400 mcg of folic acid every day for at least 1 month before and during pregnancy can help lower the risk for problems with the baby’s brain and spine — called neural tube defects (NTDs). Some women, like those who have had a pregnancy affected by NTDs or with sickle cell disease, may need more folic acid. Talk to your doctor or nurse about the dose that is right for you.
Most nutrients should come from the foods you eat, but it’s also a good idea to take prenatal vitamins. Your nurse, doctor, or midwife can recommend the best vitamins for you, on top of folic acid.
When do I need to start taking prenatal vitamins?
Start taking folic acid at least 1 month before you start trying to get pregnant. The first few weeks of pregnancy are a really important time for fetal health and development. Taking folic acid and other prenatal vitamins can help reduce the risk of some birth defects. Keep taking prenatal vitamins throughout your entire pregnancy.
Do prenatal vitamins have side effects?
A lot of people wonder about about prenatal vitamins side effects. Some people get nauseated or constipated from taking prenatal vitamins. If this happens to you, talk with your doctor about changing brands or the types of vitamins you’re taking.
Prenatal vitamins come in tablets or capsules, so finding the kind that works best with your body can help ease side effects. Your doctor or midwife can help you find a prenatal vitamin that will work best for your body.
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Prenatal vitamins are a big fat waste of money.
A new article from BMJ's Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin says mommies-to-be don't need to swallow the cost of these expensive supplements anymore — which can run up to $30 a bottle.
"We found no evidence to recommend that all pregnant women should take prenatal multinutrient supplements beyond the nationally advised folic acid and vitamin D supplements," wrote the British researchers behind the report. Folic acid and vitamin D bottles can cost just $4 or $5.
The authors say women are better off getting their B, C and E vitamins, or minerals like magnesium and zinc, from a healthy, well-rounded diet of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, proteins and dairy. In fact, supplements can even put the fetus at risk of taking in too much Vitamin A, which can harm the baby and cause birth defects.
The report suggests that vitamin makers are taking advantage of pregnant women "vulnerable to messages about giving their baby the best start in life, regardless of cost." The researchers argue much of the evidence for vitamin supplements in pregnancy actually comes from studies carried out in low-income countries where women are more likely to be undernourished, as opposed to the U.S. or the UK.
Mommies-to-be are better off getting most vitamins and minerals from a healthy diet. (M_a_y_a/Getty Images/iStockphoto)
"Most of my patients assume they have to take prenatal supplements, but the average person is able to fulfill their (nutritional) needs just by natural intake," agreed Dr. Joanne Stone, director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System.
Plus, many first trimester moms are too nauseated to swallow these oversized supplements, she said. Dr. Stone's ideal diet to cover all of your nutritional bases includes lean proteins such as chicken and fish low in mercury, as well as iron-rich spinach and broccoli, and complex carbohydrates for fiber and minerals, such as oatmeal, brown rice and quinoa, over simple white carbs like white bread and white rice. And avoid fried foods.
"Speak with your doctor, since everyone has different needs," she said, "but women who eat well really don't need all of those extra vitamins."