Should you be taking a prenatal vitamin when TTC?If you’re actively trying to conceive, it’s a good idea to do all you can to take good care of your body and stay as healthy as can be. Also a good idea? Taking a daily vitamin with the nutrients you’ll need during pregnancy as a means of being extra prepared for when you do get pregnant. But if you’re not yet pregnant, you might be wondering if you need to take an actual prenatal vitamin in advance or if you can stick with a regular multivitamin for now. Show A prenatal vitamin will definitely give you the vitamins and minerals you’ll need while preparing for pregnancy and when pregnant, while a regular multivitamin might not do the trick — but you’ll need to check the label of any vitamin you plan to take to be sure. The most important nutrient that you’ll want to check for is folic acid. Prenatal vitamins contain the amount of folic acid needed for a baby’s healthy cell and neural tube development during pregnancy — and it’s particularly important to get this amount early in pregnancy. In fact, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommends all women of childbearing age take 400-800 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily. And the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that all pregnant women get 600 mcg of folic acid each day. But because it can be hard to get that much folic acid just from food alone, ACOG also recommends that pregnant women take a daily prenatal vitamin with at least 400 mcg prior to getting pregnant and early on in pregnancy — at least one month before getting pregnant and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. (ACOG recommends 4 mg for those who are high-risk for neural tube problems) However most prenatal vitamins will contain closer to 800 mcg of folic acid — so clearly they’ve got these needs covered. But if you happen to already be taking a regular multivitamin that does contain at least 600 mcg of folic acid, that’s great. At the end of the day, you just want to make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin C, Vitamin Bs, Vitamin D, iron, and folic acid. If you can get those nutrients from a daily multivitamin you already like, feel free to stick with it. But most regular multivitamins just don’t contain the recommended amount of folic acid, so do check the label to know for certain. If you’re not yet taking a daily multivitamin and actively TTC, then you should choose a prenatal vitamin, which will contain enough of the folic acid and other nutrients you need. You’ll also have the added benefit of getting acclimated to a particular prenatal vitamin that you can continue taking throughout pregnancy once you conceive. So if you haven’t started a vitamin regimen yet, kick it
off with a prenatal vitamin that works for you. Read more
Sources
Related Topics
Prenatal vitamins are made for people who are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant. Folic acid is the most important vitamin for pre-pregnancy health. Prenatal vitamins are supplements that contain daily vitamins and minerals you need before and during your pregnancy. Folic acid is the most important vitamin to take when planning a pregnancy. Folic acid is a B vitamin that cells in your body need for growing and developing. Taking 400 mcg of folic acid every day for at least 1 month before and during pregnancy can help lower the risk for problems with the baby’s brain and spine — called neural tube defects (NTDs). Some women, like those who have had a pregnancy affected by NTDs or with sickle cell disease, may need more folic acid. Talk to your doctor or nurse about the dose that is right for you. Most nutrients should come from the foods you eat, but it’s also a good idea to take prenatal vitamins. Your nurse, doctor, or midwife can recommend the best vitamins for you, on top of folic acid. When do I need to start taking prenatal vitamins?Start taking folic acid at least 1 month before you start trying to get pregnant. The first few weeks of pregnancy are a really important time for fetal health and development. Taking folic acid and other prenatal vitamins can help reduce the risk of some birth defects. Keep taking prenatal vitamins throughout your entire pregnancy. Do prenatal vitamins have side effects?A lot of people wonder about about prenatal vitamins side effects. Some people get nauseated or constipated from taking prenatal vitamins. If this happens to you, talk with your doctor about changing brands or the types of vitamins you’re taking. Prenatal vitamins come in tablets or capsules, so finding the kind that works best with your body can help ease side effects. Your doctor or midwife can help you find a prenatal vitamin that will work best for your body. We couldn't access your location, please search for a location. Zip, City, or State Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code or city or state. Please fill out this field. Service Filter By All Telehealth In-person Please enter your age and the first day of your last period for more accurate abortion options. Your information is private and anonymous. I'm not sure This field is required. AGE This field is required. Or call 1-800-230-7526 |
Should you take prenatal vitamins when trying to conceive
Copyright © 2024 themosti Inc.
