For most pregnant women, taking a prenatal vitamin may be the best way of ensuring they get adequate amounts of the vital nutrients needed throughout pregnancy, even at times when the diet is lacking. However, not all pregnancy supplements are alike. Some contain more or less than the recommended amounts of certain nutrients.
What Pregnant Women Need
Pregnant women are no longer able to think about just themselves: they have the health of their unborn baby to consider as well. Reflecting the phrase "eating for two," pregnant women must also think about supplementing for two. As the baby develops in her womb, the mom-to-be must provide extra nutrients for brain, skeleton and muscle development. This means pregnant moms need more of certain nutrients than the average woman: in particular, they must get extra folic acid, calcium and iron.
Considerations: How Much is Enough?
Different sources suggest different amounts of supplements for pregnant women. For instance, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or ACOG, recommends women of childbearing age get at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily. This helps to prevent neural tube deficits, which can later result in learning disabilities or paralysis. However, Cleveland Clinic recommends pregnant women get between 800 mcg and 1,000 mcg of folic acid daily, an amount that is rarely found in an average multivitamin. In addition, extra iron and calcium are required to prevent anemia and bone density loss during pregnancy. ACOG recommends 27 mg of iron daily, while Cleveland Clinic rounds this up to 30 mg. Cleveland Clinic recommends 200 mg to 300 mg of calcium a day, while ACOG recommends 1,000 mg.
Misconceptions: All Prenatals Are Not Alike
Just as different health organizations' recommendations for vitamin intake during pregnancy vary, so do the contents of the average prenatal vitamin. Prenatal vitamins available for purchase over the counter may have different amounts of vitamins and minerals than those that require a doctor's prescription. This can make knowing which one to take confusing.
Getting Too Much of a Good Thing
In addition to ensuring she gets enough of each nutrient for her developing baby's health, moms-to-be also have to be careful about overdoing it. The American Pregnancy Association warns women against taking multiple supplements during their pregnancies, as this can lead to accidental overdosing on certain nutrients. It is best to stick with one supplement and to make a few dietary changes than to take more than one type of vitamin unless instructed to do so by a doctor or nutritionist.
Expert Insight
In addition to all of the different advice out there, women should know that even among pregnancies, there are different levels of needs. For instance, a pregnant woman who is a vegetarian may require more iron than her meat-eating counterpart. In addition, pregnant women who eat lots of leafy greens and dairy may not require as much calcium as the average pregnant woman. Because pregnancy nutrition can be confusing, and because there are so many different prenatal vitamins out there, pregnant women may need to consult an expert for nutritional advice. A doctor or dietician can help.
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