Your health before and during pregnancy is very important, and vitamins play a key role in maintaining good health. The American Pregnancy Association recommends making diet and health changes three months to one year before conceiving. Stocking your body with the vital nutrients found in vitamins gives your future child a nourishing start. Vitamins also increase your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.
Vitamins and Minerals
Calcium, folic acid, iron, zinc and magnesium as well as vitamin B-6 are all important vitamins and minerals to include in your pre-pregnancy nutrition plan. Lucky for you, most prenatal vitamins include all these nutrients. Your prenatal care provider will help you get prenatal vitamins. It is as simple as taking one prenatal vitamin daily. Check the label on your prenatal vitamin and talk with your doctor if you have questions. However, you still need to eat a healthy diet. Vitamins and minerals add extra nutrients, but they do not replace food.
Calcium
If you don't get enough calcium from the foods you eat, your body may pull it out of your bones. Calcium is an important mineral that builds strong bones and teeth. Most women need approximately 1,000 mg of calcium per day. If you do not drink enough milk or eat other foods high in calcium, a calcium supplement may be recommended. Most prenatal vitamins do contain calcium.
Folic Acid
Folic acid can protect your baby from birth defects. Known as the B-9 vitamin, folic acid is responsible for reducing and preventing neural tube defects. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services encourages women of child-bearing age to take 400 mcg daily. Folic acid can be found in foods such as dark green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, fortified breads and cereal.
Iron
Everyone needs iron to stay healthy, but it is especially important for women who are trying to conceive as well as pregnant and postpartum women. Iron is a mineral that carries oxygen in your blood. If the level of iron is too low in your body, you may suffer from iron deficiency anemia, which can make you tired, short of breath and pale. If you are anemic, talk to your doctor as you may need to get more iron than your prenatal vitamin offers.
Zinc and Magnesium
Zinc is a nutrient that has been linked to fertility in both women and men. Zinc is added to prenatal vitamins but can also be found in food, such as beef, chicken and pork. Zinc is vital for normal fetal growth during pregnancy. Magnesium is also found in prenatal vitamins. By getting enough magnesium along with other minerals and vitamins, you can increase your chances of conceiving. Magnesium can increase fallopian tube movement, which helps sperm meet up with the egg.
Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-6, or pyridoxine, helps with protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism. It is important during pregnancy as it can help with your baby's brain and nervous system development. It is also been known to decrease nausea and vomiting, which can be helpful if you experience morning sickness.
More May Not Be Better
Aim to consume all the nutrients you need from a well-balanced diet. Most prenatal vitamins do contain 100 percent of the recommended amount. Check with your health care provider before starting a supplement. Take the recommended amount unless your doctor tells you otherwise. More may not be better; too many vitamins or minerals may be harmful when you're trying to conceive.
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