Prenatal vitamins are designed specifically for the needs of mothers-to-be and their developing babies; however, women who are not pregnant may still benefit from taking a prenatal vitamin. Prenatals can prepare women nutritionally for a future pregnancy, and may help others get quality nutrients during the early stages of pregnancy, before they know they are expecting.
What's Different About Prenatals
Prenatal vitamins contain many of the same vitamins and minerals you might find in a women's multivitamin. However, prenatals often contain more of three key vitamins and minerals: iron, calcium and folic acid. Pregnant women need more of these specific nutrients to prevent bone loss, to prevent pregnancy-related anemia and for optimal neural tube development in their unborn babies. The Cleveland Clinic recommends women shopping for prenatals look for those that contain about 800 to 1,000mcg of folic acid, 200 to 300mg of calcium and 30mg of iron.
The Average Woman's Needs
Women who are not pregnant can get by with around 400mcg of folic acid and 18mg of iron daily, according to the National Academy of Sciences. This is around half the amount that the average woman will need once she becomes pregnant. While calcium is also equally important during pregnancy, the recommended daily requirements for pregnant women versus non-pregnant women are surprising: the National Academy of Sciences reports that both require the same amount, around 1,000mg daily.
The Case for Early Prenatals
Even though the nutritional needs of non-pregnant women are less than those of pregnant women, non-pregnant women may still benefit from taking prenatal vitamins early. Early on in pregnancy, women undergo many changes that require extra nutrition. This includes production of extra blood and the baby's neural tube development. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the neural tube forms during the first month of pregnancy, before many women even know they are pregnant. In addition, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that women who have low iron stores before pregnancy may be at a greater risk for pregnancy-related anemia, even if they get enough iron once they become pregnant. Taking prenatal vitamins can help women prevent potential pregnancy-related complications that occur during the earliest stages, before the pregnancy test shows a positive.
Who Should Take Prenatals?
Prenatal vitamins are appropriate for women from their teen years into their forties: The Cleveland Clinic recommends that all women of childbearing age take a multivitamin with at least the daily recommendation of 400mcg of folic acid. While most women who are planning to get pregnant are advised by their doctors to start on a prenatal, not all women have the luxury of planning ahead. Around half of all pregnancies are unplanned, per the Cleveland Clinic's calculations. While women who are of childbearing age do not necessarily need to commit to a prenatal over a multivitamin when their pregnancy plans are far off in the future, taking a prenatal early doesn't hurt.
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