If you’re here then you’ve probably Google’d about: what is prenatal vitamins good for.
What Are Prenatal Vitamins?
Your doctor may suggest that you take them when you begin to plan for pregnancy, as well as while you’re pregnant.
What To Look For In Prenatal Vitamins
Look for prenatal vitamins that have: 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid
400 IU of vitamin D
200 to 300 milligrams (mg) of calcium
70 mg of vitamin C
3 mg of thiamine
2 mg of riboflavin
20 mg of niacin
6 mcg of vitamin B12
10 mg of vitamin E
15 mg of zinc
17 mg of iron
150 micrograms of iodine In some cases, your doctor will give you a prescription for a certain type of prenatal vitamin.
What Are Prenatal Vitamins?
The vitamin aisle at your local pharmacy contains a huge assortment of vitamins for different genders and ages.
Prenatal vitamins are specifically geared toward women thinking about becoming pregnant or who are pregnant. A baby especially needs certain nutrients to develop. Prenatal vitamins are meant to bridge the nutritional gap.
It’s important to remember that prenatal vitamins are a supplement to a healthy diet for expectant moms. They aren’t a replacement for a healthy diet. Calcium is important for all women because it keeps their bones strong.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women (and those trying to get pregnant) take in 600 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day from all sources. Foods that have folic acid (also known as folate) include beans, leafy green vegetables, asparagus, and broccoli. Many fortified foods including cereal, bread, and pasta have folate too.
According to the Mayo Clinic, pregnant women need 27 mg of iron a day. Prenatal vitamins often contain other vitamins and minerals.
When Should I Take Prenatal Vitamins?
If you’re trying to conceive or are pregnant, your doctor will likely recommend that you take them.
While you can buy prenatal vitamins over the counter, doctors can prescribe them too. Prenatal vitamins are particularly important for these women. Doctors often recommend that women who are breastfeeding also continue taking prenatal vitamins after delivery.
Prenatal vitamins can serve as a further supplement to lactating women who need plenty of nutrients to make breast milk. Because the brain and spinal cord are already forming at the early stages of pregnancy, folic acid is vital. Prenatal vitamins are specific to the needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women.
They’re geared to make up the common nutritional deficiencies a pregnant woman could have. But they aren’t really intended for women (or men) who aren’t expecting or lactating. Excess iron can be a problem, too.
Excess amounts of nutrients like vitamin A taken from synthetic vitamins could be toxic to a person’s liver. For these reasons, most women should skip prenatal vitamins unless their doctors tell them otherwise. Misconceptions about prenatal vitamins Many women claim that prenatal vitamins affect hair and nail growth.
Some claim that taking prenatal vitamins makes hair grow thicker or faster, and that nails could grow faster or stronger too. They could also have adverse side effects.