Vitamins That Are Good For Women Trying To Conceive A Baby

Making up your mind to conceive a child is a huge decision. A visit to your doctor will help you determine if this is the right time for you to conceive based on your current health and lifestyle habits. Your doctor may recommend some changes in your diet, including adding vitamin supplements to ensure proper development for your baby.

Vitamin B9

The Baylor College of Medicine strongly recommends that you take a supplement containing vitamin B9, also known as folate or folic acid, starting 3 months prior to attempting to become pregnant. Folate is an important vitamin for the prevention of birth defects that can affect the spine, brain or abdominal cavity of a developing fetus. The U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests that pregnant women or women who are trying to become pregnant take a supplement that includes 600 mcg of folic acid.

Vitamin C

In a study published in the August 2003 issue of the medical journal "American Society for Reproductive Medicine," researchers found that a daily supplement of 750 mg of vitamin C helped some women become pregnant. The women in this study had a hormonal defect that prevented the lining of the uterus from developing properly; those who took the supplement had a 25 percent success rate in becoming pregnant versus an 11 percent success rate for the women who did not take the supplement. Before adding vitamin C or any vitamin supplements to your diet, it is wise to consult your physician to make sure it is safe to do so.

Other Vitamins

Both the Baylor College of Medicine and the USDA recommend that you start taking a prenatal multivitamin supplement--one that contains a wide range of vitamins--when you decide to try to become pregnant. This will ensure that your body has all the vitamins it needs to support both you and your baby. The USDA further notes that vitamin supplements are not a substitute for a healthy diet. Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is one of the best ways to ensure you experience a healthy pregnancy.