Pregnancy is a time to subtract certain things from your diet --- cocktails, for example --- but one thing you'll probably add is a daily prenatal vitamin. Doctors usually advise these vitamins to ensure that you're getting the right nutrition for you and your baby. Among other essential nutrients, you need about 50 percent more iron when you're pregnant, according to the American Dietetic Association.
Taking Prenatal Vitamins
It doesn't replace a healthy diet, but a prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement can help reduce risks such as birth defects, low birth weight and premature birth. These supplements are available over the counter or by prescription, and, ideally, you'll start taking them when you begin trying to conceive. Typically they include a variety of vitamins and other nutrients, including 27 mg of iron.
Importance of Iron
Extra iron during pregnancy helps produce additional blood, support the baby's growth and provide oxygen for the baby's tissues and your own. If you don't get enough iron, you may develop a shortage of red blood cells, a condition called anemia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that anemia during the first two trimesters is linked to twice the risk for preterm delivery and three times the risk for a low-birth-weight baby.
Possible Side Effects
Prenatal supplements with iron may cause side effects that bother some women, including nausea. The additional iron also may cause constipation. If that's a problem for you, try drinking plenty of water, boosting the fiber in your diet and exercising daily as long as you doctor says that's OK. You can also ask your doctor about using a stool softener.
Other Prenatal Vitamin Tips
Take your prenatal vitamins with water or juice, not with milk or soda. If nausea is a problem, try taking them with a snack at bedtime. If side effects persist, talk to your doctor about other options, such as trying a different brand of supplements or using separate supplements for vital nutrients like folic acid, calcium and iron.
References
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Nutrition During Pregnancy
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Recommendations to Prevent and Control Iron Deficiency in the United States
- American Dietetic Association: Preparing for Pregnancy
- MayoClinic.com: Prenatal Vitamins: Give Your Baby the Best Start
- National Women's Health Information Center: Healthy Pregnancy
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