If you're pregnant, your obstetrician has probably recommended you take prenatal vitamins. Your doctor may have prescribed some, but many women take over-the-counter prenatals. There are many brands available, but there are also generic prenatal vitamins that -- provided you check the contents -- contain all the nutrients that brand names do at a fraction of the cost.
Prenatal Vitamins
The purpose of prenatal vitamins is to ensure that regardless of what you eat, you're getting the important vitamins and minerals you need to support your cells and those of your developing baby. Prenatals have much in common with regular daily multivitamins, explain Drs. Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz in their book "You: Having A Baby." They're higher in a few key nutrients, however -- specifically, folic acid and iron.
Nutrient Content
When you're trying to decide whether to take a generic prenatal, one important thing to do is to check and make sure it has the appropriate quantities of the key nutrients iron and folic acid. You need 27 mg of iron per day to support blood cell synthesis, explain Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel in their book "What To Expect When You're Expecting." You also need 800 to 1000 mcg of folic acid to help prevent spinal cord birth defects. Other vitamins and minerals can vary significantly in their quantities, and that's okay, since they're easier to get from food.
DHA
Many prenatal vitamins these days come packaged with DHA, an oil generally included as a separate soft capsule in its own bottle. Generic prenatal vitamins are no exception, and you can find bottles of DHA included with many of them. DHA stands for docosahexaenoic acid; it's an omega-3 fatty acid that helps support fetal brain development. While there aren't scientifically established requirements for DHA, you should try to include it in your diet either through food or a supplement. Drs. Roizen and Oz recommend as much as 600 mg per day.
Other Considerations
There are a few other things you may want to think about in choosing generic prenatals. First, you might want to avoid artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners, since they haven't been tested for safety during pregnancy. Second, some pills are larger and harder to swallow than others; if you gag easily, this may be a concern. Finally, generics may be a bit harder on your stomach, since they're less likely to contain slow-release iron. If you find you're having gut trouble, try changing brands.
References
- "You: Having A Baby"; Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D.; 2009
- "What to Expect When You're Expecting"; Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel; 2008
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