Prenatal vitamins help you, as a mother-to-be, get the nutrients you need to help your growing baby develop. Certain vitamins are essential to your baby's health, and you may not be getting them from food sources alone. Choosing to take prenatal vitamins will ensure that your baby receives all of the nutrients needed for in-utero development.
Prenatal Vitamins
Even the healthiest diet may fall short of prenatal nutrient needs. The March of Dimes website says that prenatal vitamins contain vitamins like iron, calcium and folic acid. Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects. Calcium is needed for your baby to begin to grow strong bones and helps your circulatory and nervous system to run normally during pregnancy. Iron is also needed because it helps to support the development of blood and muscle cells in you and your growing baby.
One a Day
Prenatal Vitamins should be taken once a day because just one dose gives you all of the nutrients you need. However, whether you take them in the morning or the night time your choice. The Baby Center says that if you mistakenly take your prenatal vitamins twice in one day, you and your baby will be safe, but taking a double dose of prenatal vitamins on a regular basis may be harmful for your baby.
Taking Your Prenatals
The MayoClinic.com suggests that prenatal vitamins should be taken throughout pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins may cause nausea or constipation. Taking your prenatal vitamins with a snack, juice or water or chewing gum after you take your supplement may help with nausea. If you struggle with constipation, drink plenty of water and add extra fiber into your diet.
Considerations
MayoClinic.com suggests taking prenatal vitamins three months before you plan on getting pregnant, because some nutrients are needed as soon as the baby is conceived. Visit your doctor as soon as you become pregnant to make sure you should take prenatal vitamins.
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