Starting a prenatal vitamin at the right time guarantees that all the right nutrients will be there for your developing baby when he needs them most. While it can't replace a healthy diet, a prenatal supplement provides 100 percent of most vitamins and many of the minerals needed for building healthy bones and organs. In fact, your daily prenatal supplement taken throughout pregnancy may be one of the best things you can do for your baby's health and your own.
Timing
The March of Dimes recommends that all women who are planning on becoming pregnant or could become pregnant begin to take prenatal vitamins before they conceive. This includes women of childbearing age who don't use any form of birth control and who are sexually active. Prior to conception take a prenatal vitamin containing at least 400 mcg of folic acid. After conception, switch to a prenatal vitamin with a minimum of 600 mcg of folic acid.
Reasons
By starting a prenatal vitamin before you get pregnant, you can ensure that your baby is protected even during the first few days and weeks of gestation. Most pregnancy tests are unable to detect pregnancy until at least a week after conception, so you may not be aware of your pregnancy until after the first missed period, a full two weeks into development. Embryonic development in these first few weeks sets the stage for the entire future development of the baby, and deficiencies during this time can lead to severe birth defects or miscarriage. Also, the vitamins and minerals in a prenatal supplement may help boost fertility, making it a little easier to conceive.
Special Considerations
If you have previously had a child with a neural tube defect, talk to your doctor about taking a higher dose of folic acid before and during pregnancy. The March of Dimes recommends a dose of 4 g, or 4,000 mg, to prevent future birth defects. Start taking supplements with this dosage at least one month before conception if you fall into this category.
Birth Control
Women who are on hormonal birth control or are using another form of protection against contraception may not need to take prenatal vitamins. However, you should starting prenatal vitamins as soon as you stop using birth control, since pregnancy can occur even before you have a full menstrual cycle.
Preconception Planning
In addition to starting on prenatal vitamins before conception, do some other preconception planning, as well. Before you get pregnant, talk to a doctor about getting all of your immunizations up to date and having a health checkup to make sure that blood pressure and blood glucose levels are within healthy limits.
Other Supplements
You may need additional supplements not provided by a prenatal vitamin before conception and throughout pregnancy. A doctor can test the levels of vitamin D and iron in your blood to determine whether you need additional supplementation with these nutrients. You may also want to take omega-3 fatty acids, often sold in the form of fish oil capsules, since this type of fat can help early brain development in the embryo.
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