During pregnancy, most women benefit from taking a prenatal vitamin. Prenatal vitamins ensure expectant moms get the vital nutrients they need for their developing babies, despite what they eat. While prenatal vitamins come highly recommended, they are not all alike. Be sure your vitamin has the key nutrients important during pregnancy.
Significance of Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are specialty vitamins. Taking a regular multivitamin, even one that has been formulated especially for women, is not enough for most pregnant women to get the specific nutrients they need. Pregnant women require more folic acid and iron than average women, even those of similar age, general health and activity level. While a multivitamin is better during pregnancy than no vitamin at all, a prenatal vitamin is important for the future health of the unborn child. In fact, the American Pregnancy Association warns that some types of vitamins may put the developing baby in danger.
Two Vital Nutrients in Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins contain higher levels of folic acid and iron than standard multivitamins. Early on in fetal development, folic acid is required for neural tube formation, which later becomes the brain and spinal cord. The Cleveland Clinic reports that while women of childbearing age should get a minimum of 400mcg of folic acid daily, a pregnant woman should take a prenatal vitamin that contains between 800 and 1,000mcg. In addition, extra iron is vital early in pregnancy for the extra blood volume created to support the baby's growth. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or ACOG, recommends pregnant women get 27mg of iron a day; however, the Cleveland Clinic suggests women up this to 30mg.
Other Prenatal Vitamin Ingredients
Pregnant women also need more calcium than the average woman to support their baby's skeletal system development. Women who do not get enough calcium during pregnancy are at risk for losing bone density, as the fetus must get calcium from somewhere. The Cleveland Clinic recommends a prenatal vitamin that contains 200 to 300mg of calcium. However, women should also ensure they get enough extra calcium in their diets, as ACOG recommends they get 1,000mg a day. Other important ingredients in prenatal vitamins include vitamins A, C, D, B6 and B12.
When to Begin Taking Prenatals
Neural tube development and extra blood production happen early on in pregnancy--so early, in fact, that some women do not even know yet that they are pregnant. Women in this group are at higher risk for pregnancy-related complications if they are not already getting enough nutrients to support a developing baby. Because of this, the American Pregnancy Association recommends women take prenatal vitamins before they get pregnant. Since many pregnancies are unplanned, ACOG recommends women of childbearing age pay attention to the amount of nutrition in their diet. Taking a prenatal vitamin can help.
Not All Vitamins are Alike
Just because a vitamin says "prenatal" on the label does not mean it contains all of the necessary nutrition for a particular individual. Other factors, such as pre-pregnancy health and dietary restrictions, influence the amount of nutrition that each pregnant woman needs. Some pregnant women may even require a prescription for their prenatal. While any prenatal vitamin is better than none, women should consult their doctor before settling on a brand.
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