Your nutrition is particularly important during pregnancy because it affects your growing baby's development. In addition to a balanced diet, prenatal vitamins help provide the recommended amount of nutrients that you need for a healthy pregnancy. It is important to understand how to choose prenatal vitamins and when to begin taking them.
Benefits
Your need for many vitamins and minerals increases while you are pregnant--so much so that it can be difficult to get all of the extra nutrients you need from your diet. Also, nutrients like folic acid are absorbed better in the form of a vitamin than in food. Prenatal vitamins are especially important if you are having multiples or suffer from food intolerances or a chronic disease.
Types
Your doctor may recommend a type of prenatal vitamin that is best for you. There are vitamins available over the counter and with a prescription. They come in pills, chewable tablets and in a powdered form designed to mix with water. Some prenatal vitamins are specially formulated for pregnant women with certain nutritional needs. For example, some prenatals contain extra iron for women with iron-deficiency anemia.
Timing
It is important to begin taking prenatal vitamins before you actually get pregnant. Your need for nutrients like folic acid and iron increase in very early pregnancy. For example, 400 to 800 mcg a day of folic acid can help prevent neural tube defects that develop in the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before you even know that you are pregnant. A sufficient intake of iron is necessary for your increasing blood supply. If you do not start taking prenatal vitamins while you are trying to conceive, start taking them as soon as you find out that you are pregnant.
Recommendations
If you accidentally take more than one prenatal vitamin in a day, it is likely not going to harm you or the baby. However, if you regularly take additional supplements you could overdose on some vitamins, which can lead to sickness and birth defects. If your prenatal vitamins make you nauseous, try taking them with a meal or just before bedtime.
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