Additional Benefits Of Prenatal Vitamins

The American Pregnancy Association recommends taking a prenatal vitamin while trying to conceive a child and during pregnancy. Taking a prenatal vitamin for two to three months prior to conception ensures that your body has the proper amount of folic acid necessary to grow a healthy baby. Taking a prenatal vitamin may reduce your changes of miscarriage, birth defects and preeclampsia. Talk to your doctor to determine which prenatal will provide you and your baby with the most benefits.

Folic Acid

During pregnancy your body requires 600mcg of folic acid, or folate, one of the B vitamins. Adequate intake of folic acid is imperative during the initial stages of pregnancy. "Our Bodies, Ourselves," reports that meeting your daily requirement for folic acid during the first few weeks of your pregnancy prevents 50 to 70 percent of neural tube defects, including spina bifida. Taking a prenatal vitamin before conception ensures that your body's needs do not go unfulfilled at the beginning of your pregnancy. Most prenatal vitamins contain 600 to 1000mcg of folic acid. Talk to your doctor or check your prenatal vitamins' label to make sure that they provide appropriate amounts of folic acid.

Iron

Iron is a mineral that aids in muscular development and helps your body transport oxygen to your cells, tissues and muscles. Your daily iron needs increase during pregnancy; you require 27mg of iron while pregnant and 18mg otherwise. Many prenatal vitamins provide 27mg of iron and certain kinds provide more iron if you have a history of anemia, or iron deficiency.

Anemia occurs when low iron levels cause your red blood cell count to become decrease, slowing down oxygen transportation from your lungs to the rest of your body. During pregnancy, your red blood cells have to transport enough oxygen for you and your growing baby. The prenatal vitamins helps prevent pregnancy induced anemia and ensure that your baby's iron needs are met. During pregnancy, your baby will absorb all of the iron she gets for the first six months of her postnatal life.

Calcium

Calcium helps build your baby's bones and teeth during pregnancy. If you don't consume enough calcium to provide for you and your baby's needs, your baby will take calcium from your bones. Low calcium intake or absorption by the baby may place you at risk for osteoporosis, a condition which makes your bones weak, brittle and susceptible to breaks. While all women, pregnant or not, require 1000mg of calcium daily, the "March of Dimes" website reports that most women consume about 700mg of calcium daily. Prenatal vitamins typically contain 200 to 400mg of calcium and help you achieve your daily requirements.