Making sure you're getting the right amount of vitamins and nutrients is always important, but it's particularly vital when you're pregnant. Pregnant women need different amounts of vitamins than others, and prenatal vitamins provide for these special considerations. Choosing the best prenatal vitamin for your needs should be a decision you discuss with your doctor, as your personal needs may vary slightly.
Vitamins
Most prenatal vitamins contain the vitamins and minerals found in regular multivitamin supplements, but they often contain more of the nutrients essential to a healthy pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins usually contain higher levels of iron and folic acid than standard multivitamins. Look for a prenatal vitamin that contains at least 400 mcg of folic acid to help protect your baby against neural tube birth defects. Prenatal vitamins that contain higher levels of iron than typical vitamins are desirable since you'll need more iron to help your placenta growth and to produce more hemoglobin, which allows your red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout your body, including to your baby. Most pregnant women should aim for an average of 27 mg of iron per day, according to Baby Center.
Types
Prenatal vitamins are available over the counter or through a prescription. Most of these vitamins contain the same nutrients, though prescription varieties may have different dosages. The vitamins are often large, which could pose a problem if you have trouble swallowing them. Trying a gel-capped vitamin or a chewable version can make them easier to take. There are a few brands of liquid prenatal vitamins if you can't swallow a large pill and find the taste of chewable vitamins intolerable.
Considerations
Look at other nutrients when selecting the best prenatal vitamin for you. Pregnant women should aim for 1,000 mg of calcium per day, and some of that can come from your prenatal vitamin. Some prenatal vitamins incorporate a stool softener to help ease constipation. Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, is an important omega-3 fatty acid found in some prenatal vitamins that helps your developing baby's nerves, brain and eyes form. Pregnant women are advised to be cautious about consuming fish due to mercury concerns.
Warning
If you have complications during your pregnancy or suffer from a previously-diagnosed medical condition, such as anemia, the vitamins and dosages you require can differ from the average pregnant woman's. It's important to talk to your doctor about the best prenatal vitamin for you and your baby. Do not stop taking your prenatal vitamin if you feel nauseated after taking it. Instead, try taking your vitamin just before bed or take it with some ginger candy or another light snack to ease the symptom. Discuss switching to a vitamin with less iron if you suffer from gas or constipation.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Prenatal Vitamins: Give Your Baby the Best Start
- Baby Center; Prenatal Vitamins: A Nutritional Insurance Policy; July 2010
- eMedTV; The Best Prenatal Vitamins; Kristi Monson, PharmD; December 2007
- Baby Center; Iron in Your Pregnancy Diet; December 2009
- What to Expect: Choosing the Best Prenatal Vitamin
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