Even before women become pregnant, they need a certain amount of vitamins and minerals. Certain key vitamins and minerals, such as iron and folic acid, are important in the earliest stages of pregnancy, when women may not even know they are pregnant. Women who are trying to get pregnant should ensure they are getting enough of these key nutrients through a prenatal vitamin.
Three Key Nutrients
Some of the most important supplements for pregnant women are iron, calcium and folic acid. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or ACOG, women who are pregnant need around 27 milligrams of iron, 1,000 mg of calcium and 600 micrograms of folic acid. These nutrients are present in the foods many women eat, including fortified cereals and leafy green vegetables. However, getting an adequate amount for pregnancy purposes may be challenging when attempted through diet alone. While the needs of women who are not pregnant tend to be lower, there is a good argument for women who are actively trying to conceive to take prenatal vitamins early.
Taking Prenatals Before Pregnancy
Why would a woman who is not pregnant opt for a prenatal vitamin? Because several important development changes occur so early during a pregnancy that they often happen before she knows she is pregnant. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a baby's neural tube develops within about four weeks of conception. Pregnant women who are not getting enough folic acid at this early stage in pregnancy may increase the baby's risk for neural tube defects, which can lead to brain damage and spina bifida. In addition, early in pregnancy a woman's blood production increases to support both her own bodily changes and for the baby's blood supply. Women who do not get enough iron before and during this time may be prone to pregnancy-related anemia.
Supplements or Prenatals?
If you get enough of these key nutrients through your diet and other supplements, you don't necessarily have to take a prenatal vitamin before pregnancy. For most women, however, a vitamin is easier than trying to take a variety of supplements to achieve the higher recommended daily allowances, or RDAs, that come with pregnancy. The Mayo Clinic, however, recommends women who are trying to conceive start with prenatals at least three months before they hope to become pregnant, and stick with them for the duration of their pregnancy. This can ensure she gets appropriate nutrients during those earliest months, and it also prevents any lapse in nutrition during pregnancy itself.
Which Vitamins to Take
As with other products, you should read the labels in selecting a prenatal vitamin, because not all prenatals contain the same amount of nutrients. The Cleveland Clinic recommends women choose a prenatal supplement that contains at least 200 milligrams of calcium, 30 mg of iron and 800 to 1,000 micrograms of folic acid, which is actually greater than the pregnancy RDA. In addition, vitamin D is also an important part of pregnancy nutrition. The Mayo Clinic reports that many prenatals do not contain enough vitamin D. The Cleveland Clinic recommends women take a prenatal that has at least 400 international units. If you are not sure which prenatal to start before your pregnancy, check with your doctor for a recommendation.
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