Nearly every pregnant woman in the United States receives a recommendation to start taking one at their first prenatal visit: prenatal vitamins, available both over the counter and by prescription, supply essential nutrients during pregnancy. While prenatal vitamins may vary slightly in composition, most contain similar ingredients aimed at ensuring both maternal and fetal health.
Components
Most prenatal vitamins contain standard supplements such as vitamin A and B vitamins such as B6, thiamine and riboflavin. Prenatal supplements also contain vitamins C, D and E as well as calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium and folic acid.
Purpose
Prenatal supplements help prevent diseases caused by vitamin or mineral deficiencies such as neural tube defects related to folic acid deficiency. Even women who eat normal diets may have deficiencies during pregnancy, particularly in iron and calcium.
Benefits
Folic acid is one of the most important components of prenatal vitamins. Taking 400 mcg of folic acid daily reduces the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida, an abnormal opening in the spine, and anencephaly, an absence of part of the brain, by 50 percent, Family Practice Notebook reports. The risk of cleft lip and palate also drops by 25 to 50 percent in women taking prenatal vitamins. Certain types of heart defects are also reduced by 43 percent, the same site adds. Zinc can increase birth weight and head circumference and also results in births at a later gestational date, Family Practice Notebook notes. Calcium helps protect pregnant woman's bones from bone mineral density loss, while iron increases oxygen levels in both mother and fetus.
Risks
It's possible to overdose or take too many prenatal vitamins. Iron can cause toxic buildup in the body and death if taken in excess. Symptoms of iron overdose include constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Overdoses of vitamins A, D, E and K, fat soluble vitamins, can cause abdominal pain, appetite loss, hair loss, changes in menstrual periods, weight loss, pallor, severe headache, easy bruising or bleeding or tingling sensations around the mouth, Drugs.com states. Minerals can cause tooth staining, irregular heart rate, confusion, muscle weakness, increased urination or stomach bleeding, the same site adds.
Considerations
Some vitamins and minerals are difficult to obtain in adequate amounts during pregnancy, like folic acid, making a prenatal supplement helpful. Taking a supplement doesn't replace a healthy diet with adequate vegetables, fruits, grains and protein. Women who experience nausea while taking prenatal supplements may have less nausea with chewable supplements, the Cleveland Clinic recommends.
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