Should You Take Prenatal Vitamins Before You Get Pregnant?

Prenatal vitamins provide women with the right amount of nutrients needed for a healthy pregnancy and baby. BabyCenter compares the vitamins to an insurance policy, offering crucial vitamins and minerals in case your diet falls short. Before pregnancy, taking a prenatal vitamin can benefit women whose diets do not always meet all of the dietary requirements, such as vegetarians. However, all women can benefit from prenatal vitamins before conception.

Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins are designed to meet the nutritional needs of expectant mothers. During pregnancy, iron, calcium and folic acid are particularly important and are found in greater amounts in prenatal vitamins. Since meeting nutritional needs during pregnancy can be difficult, prenatal vitamins can ensure that you and your baby receive the nutrients you need. Before pregnancy, prenatal vitamins can fill in gaps within your diet and prepare your body for the strenuous road ahead.

Folic Acid

Ideally, prenatal vitamins should be taken several months before conception. Most prenatal vitamins contain at least 400mcg of folic acid. Consuming a prenatal vitamin prior to becoming pregnant may help levels of folic acid within the body reach optimal levels. Optimal folic acid status may decrease the risk of neural tube defects. The most common form of neural tube defect is spina bifida and occurs when the spine is not completely developed. Since most women do not even know they are pregnant until the neural tube is closed, it is beneficial to have adequate folic acid in your body before you conceive.

Calcium

The calcium in prenatal vitamins is very important to a mother-to-be. Ideally, calcium levels in the bone should be adequate. With ideal calcium levels, the pregnant mother will have enough calcium for her developing fetus, without jeopardizing her own bones. Read the label of your vitamin as some prenatal vitamins do not contain calcium.

Iron

Obtaining adequate amounts of iron from the diet can be difficult. Proper iron levels prior to pregnancy may help decrease the risk of iron deficiency anemia, which can lead to preterm labor and low birth weight. An adequate iron level can support blood cell development in the mother even before conception occurs.

Vitamin Regulations

Since the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate vitamin and mineral supplements, manufacturers can claim their vitamins can do more than they may actually do. It is important to discuss types of prenatal vitamins with your obstetrician before taking them. Your doctor can also advise you of the risks versus benefits of taking prenatal vitamins before conception.