Prenatal Vitamins

Most women can benefit from taking a prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement, preferably before they start trying to conceive, it’s a way of making sure you're getting the right amount of nutrients during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, women need more of certain nutrients, and taking daily supplements, including folic acid, iron and calcium, can fill dietary gaps.

If you're pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, speak with your health-care provider about taking a prenatal vitamin. They are available both over the counter and with a prescription.

Prenatal vitamins are specifically formulated for women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, and women who are breast-feeding.

Folic acid protects against neural tube defects (problems with the development of a baby's brain and spinal cord). Iron carries oxygen throughout the body and to the baby, and calcium promotes strong bones

• Folic acid. To reduce the risk of having a child with neural tube defects, women who are trying to become pregnant should get 600 micrograms (mcg) of folate or folic acid a day through diet and supplements. Other healthy adults — both men and women — need only 400 mcg a day. While uncommon, getting too much folic acid by taking supplements can mask the symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency and delay diagnosis and treatment.
• Iron. During pregnancy, the recommended intake of iron is 27 milligrams (mg) a day. Women between the ages of 19 and 50 who aren't pregnant need only 18 mg a day, and women age 51 and older and all adult men need only 8 mg a day. Getting too much iron can be toxic because it can build up in your body, causing constipation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and, in severe cases, possibly death.
• Calcium. Pregnant adult women and healthy men and women ages 19 to 50 all need 1,000 mg a day. Men and women age 51 and older need 1,200 mg a day. Because prenatal vitamins are intended to supplement calcium you get in your diet, they generally contain only 200 to 300 mg of calcium. If you rely on prenatal vitamins to meet your calcium needs, you likely won't get enough, raising your risk of osteoporosis and other health problems.

Taking a prenatal vitamin is especially important for women with certain diets and dietary restrictions, health issues, or pregnancy complications.

This includes women who:

• Are vegetarians or vegans
• Are lactose-intolerant or have other food intolerances
• Smoke or abuse other substances
• Have certain blood disorders
• Have certain chronic diseases
• Have had gastric bypass surgery
• Are having twins or higher multiples

The Recommend Dose

The current guidelines recommend 600 mcg of folic acid per day, up from 400 mcg for premenopausal women, and 27 mg of iron, up from 18 mg. Pregnant women also have slightly higher needs for magnesium, selenium, zinc, copper, vitamin C, riboflavin and niacin.