During pregnancy, a woman's intake of vitamins and supplements increases to aid in fetal growth and development. It is important to always eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and have a good exercise routine before becoming pregnant to create a healthy environment for a baby to develop. If you take vitamins, it is best to keep track of your intake and to work in conjunction with your health care provider, states the American Pregnancy Association website.
Folic Acid
Folic acid is a naturally occurring B vitamin that helps prevent birth defects. The March of Dimes website states that folic acid helps a baby's neural tube, which is the part of a developing baby that becomes the brain and spinal cord, to develop properly. It is important that a woman take folic acid even before she becomes pregnant for it to work, as birth defects happen in the brain and spine during the first few weeks of pregnancy -- even before a woman knows she is expecting. The human body uses folic acid to make healthy new cells for the baby that will form into the brain, organs, skin, bones and spine. It is recommended that a woman take a multivitamin that contains at least 400 mcg of folic acid.
Calcium
Birth.com states that calcium is important for a baby to develop bones. If they do not get enough calcium, they will take it from the mother's bones and it may lead to the mother not having enough calcium for her health. Women who are most at risk for health problems are those who have had multiple pregnancies within two or three years, women who have had twins, triplets or more at one time, and women who have had more than two or three children. The proper amount of calcium in the diet may prevent high blood pressure from occurring and a possible premature birth. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should take between 900 mg and 1,200 mg of calcium a day, while women under the age of 20 need at least 1,200 mg because her body is still building bone density. Women carrying twins need 1,200 mg to 1,500 mg of calcium and for triplets, 1,500 mg to 1,800 mg.
Iron
Iron makes hemoglobin, a protein in the red blood cells that carries oxygen to the organs, tissue and baby, says the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. During a pregnancy, the amount of blood increases to almost 50 percent more than usual. More iron is required to make more hemoglobin for all the extra blood, states the Baby Center website. Iron is also needed for the growing baby and placenta. The daily allowance of iron for a pregnant woman is 18 mg to 27 mg, but because it is hard to get enough iron in the diet, the Centers for Disease Control and prevention recommend 30 milligrams as a preventive dose.
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