Your nutritional needs change during pregnancy. It is important to establish a well-balanced diet, but taking a prenatal vitamin in addition to maintaining healthy eating habits ensures that both you and your unborn baby are getting the vitamins and minerals necessary for a successful pregnancy. If obtaining prescription prenatal vitamins is too costly or inconvenient for you, purchasing over-the-counter prenatal vitamins may be a good alternative.
Considerations
Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before taking an over-the-counter prenatal vitamin. A health professional can ask you questions about your medical background and can provide recommendations about which brand of prenatal vitamins would be best for your specific situation. It is also important to reveal any medications or supplements you are currently taking and discuss any potential interactions.
Choosing a Multivitamin
It may be wise to select a prenatal multivitamin that contains all of the necessary nutrients in one dose instead of selecting several different supplements, suggests the American Pregnancy Association. When comparing the different brands of over-the-counter prenatal vitamins, look for a USP label on the package. A USP label means that the product meets U.S. Pharmacopeia standards for content, quality, safety and purity.
Ingredients
Different brands of prenatal vitamins may contain different amounts of vitamins and minerals. Although it is best to talk to your doctor to determine the appropriate amount for you, the Cleveland Clinic notes that prenatal supplements should generally contain between 4,000 and 5,000 IU of vitamin A, 800 to 1,000mcg of folic acid, 400 IU of vitamin D, 200 to 300mg of calcium, 70mg of vitamin C, 1.5mg of thiamine, 1.6mg of riboflavin, 2.6mg of pyridoxine, 17mg of niacinamide, 2.2 to 12mcg of vitamin B12, 10mg of vitamin E, 15mg of zinc and 30mg of iron. Other ingredients, such as DHA, may also prove beneficial. Always ask your doctor if you have questions or concerns about the ingredients of your prenatal vitamins.
Cost
If the price of prenatal vitamins is important to you, consider a few factors to keep the costs down. Check to see how many pills come in each package, as well as how many pills you would need to take each day. Some over-the-counter pills require you to take two pills a day, which would lead you to go through a bottle more quickly than a product that only requires you to take one pill a day. Store-brand prenatal vitamins may work just as well as name-brand prenatal vitamins, but are usually a bit cheaper. In addition, check the store or vitamin manufacturer's website or your weekly newspaper for coupons that can save you even more money.
Warning
Always follow the dosing instructions of your doctor while taking over-the-counter prenatal vitamins. Taking too much of certain vitamins can jeopardize your own health and the health of your unborn baby. Although the specific amount you need may depend in part on your specific medical condition, taking more than 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of a vitamin or mineral should be avoided unless you are specifically directed to do so by a doctor, notes the American Pregnancy Association.
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