Many vitamins play such an important role in your baby's growth that MayoClinic.com recommends women begin taking prenatal vitamins up to three months before they conceive. The website BabyCentral advises against taking anything that hasn't been prescribed or recommended by your doctor, however. This is especially true if you're already taking prenatal vitamins. Don't take extra supplements without talking to your physician first, because some can be harmful to your baby in high doses.
Folic Acid
Your baby's neural tube will begin developing during the first month of your pregnancy, and sufficient folic acid is vital to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida. Since it is difficult to get sufficient folic acid from your diet, most prenatal vitamins contain a minimum of 600 mcg. BabyCenter recommends taking folic acid supplements for a month before trying to conceive, especially if you already have a child who suffers from a neural tube defect. In this case, your doctor will probably recommend 4,000 mcg of folic acid daily.
B Complex Vitamins
The B complex group of vitamins helps both you and your baby. Vitamin B2, also called riboflavin, will keep your energy up. Niacin, or vitamin B3, is integral to your baby's skin and nervous system. Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, works in the formation of red blood cells. Pyridoxine can also combat morning sickness, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Because nausea can be a side effect of other prenatal vitamins and add to an already existing problem, MayoClinic.com suggests that you take your prenatal vitamins at night with a small snack.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps you absorb iron and helps your baby grow strong teeth and bones. This is one of the more important prenatal vitamins because its agents act like a glue to hold forming cells together, and it also protects existing tissues from damage, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
Vitamin D
Your baby will need additional sources of calcium in your last trimester as his bones form. You'll need increased amounts of vitamin D during this time, either through an additional supplement or by drinking more milk. But don't take it on yourself to take extra Vitamin D in supplement form without first asking your doctor if you should.
Vitamin A
While your baby does need vitamin A to help her bones and teeth grow, high doses of the kind that comes from animal products can be toxic, even if you take it immediately before conception, according to BabyCentral. Most prenatal vitamins contain a percentage of beta carotene instead. Your body can convert beta carotene to vitamin A with no risk to your fetus.
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