Most pregnant women should take a prenatal vitamin regardless of how well they eat. Prenatal vitamins are even appropriate for women who are planning to get pregnant, or who are of childbearing age. Taking these vitamins can help women avoid certain health complications in the vital early stages of pregnancy, before many even know they are pregnant.
Features of Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are formulated differently than other multivitamins. Pregnant women require more of certain key nutrients than the average woman so they can provide their developing babies with what they need to grow. In particular, prenatal vitamins contain more folic acid, iron and calcium than standard multivitamins. They also contain several other vitamins and minerals that a pregnant woman needs to keep both herself and her baby healthy.
Considerations for Mom's Health
Prenatal vitamins are not only for the baby's health; they are for the mother-to-be's health as well. According to the Cleveland Clinic, women who do not get enough calcium during their pregnancy may risk losing bone density as their baby's skeleton develops. This is because the baby has to take this calcium from somewhere. If mom's diet does not contain enough, her bones will suffer. In addition, pregnant women develop an increased blood supply early on to support their babies. The extra red blood cells require additional iron, much of which can be found in a prenatal vitamin. Taking a prenatal vitamin helps moms-to-be avoid losing bone density, and makes them less likely to develop anemia.
Considerations for Baby's Health
Folic acid is another key ingredient of prenatal vitamins. Folic acid is essential during the earliest stages of pregnancy, as the baby's neural tube develops. The neural tube is the structure that later becomes the brain and spinal cord. Neural tube deficits can cause long-term disabilities, including learning disabilities and even paralysis. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or ACOG, recommends a minimum of 400mcg of folic acid daily. However, the Cleveland Clinic recommends women take a prenatal vitamin that contains 800 to 1,000mcg.
What About Other Women?
Pregnant women benefit from a prenatal vitamin as it can be difficult to get the nutrients they need from diet alone, especially when battling cravings and morning sickness. However, prenatal vitamins are not just for pregnant women. Neural tube formation and extra blood production occur early in pregnancy, and for some women this process may have already begun before a pregnancy is discovered. For this reason, women who are trying to get pregnant should start taking a prenatal vitamin. In addition, women who are of childbearing age can benefit from taking a prenatal vitamin, should a pregnancy come as a surprise.
Choosing the Right Prenatal Vitamin
Not all prenatal vitamins are the same. Some are available over the counter, and others require a doctor's prescription. Many contain varying levels of vitamins and minerals. Both ACOG and the Cleveland Clinic outline their own recommended levels of nutrients; however, even among such experts, these recommendations can differ. The American Pregnancy Association advises seeking the advice of a doctor and a nutritionist when selecting a prenatal, as some women are more prone to health conditions, such as anemia, than others. A doctor can help a woman choose a prenatal to meet her specific needs.
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