PRENATAL VITAMINS

Prenatal vitamins are a simple way to help ensure that you and your baby are getting the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that you and your baby need. These vitamins should be used as supplements to your daily intake requirements and should be used to replace eating well balanced meals.

Vitamins and minerals such as calcium, folic acid, and iron are all essential for healthy fetal development. It also is important to your own well-being. Make sure you track your daily intake and keep your doctor or midwife informed of your nutritional and pre-natal vitamin intake.

What Prenatal Vitamin Should I Take?

Prenatal vitamins vary depending on the manufacturers and potential specific intentions. For example some prenatal vitamins may have a greater focus on calcium and others may focus on iron. It is important to make sure that your prenatal vitamin does include folic acid. Some prenatal vitamins are only available by a doctor’s prescription, whereas others are available over the counter. Keep in mind that it is possible to jeopardize your baby’s (or your own) health by taking the wrong amounts of synthetic vitamins, so again discuss your prenatal vitamins with your doctor Discuss Vitamin and Mineral Care with your Doctor
It is important to not take a variety or multiple supplements unless your doctor prescribes a particular regimen. Combining supplements (such as taking a folic acid supplement along with your multivitamin, etc) can raise concerns because you run the risk of overdosing on a particular nutrient. Taking more than 100% the RDA of any nutrient should be avoided during pregnancy unless under the direction of your health care provider. Supplements (synthetic vitamins and minerals) contain higher doses in concentrated form, which can be dangerous if taken in excessive or improper amounts. Always let your health care provider know what nutritional supplements you are taking. Consider taking your supplement bottles with you to your
first prenatal visit. Synthetic vitamin supplements can be helpful ways of including vital nutrients in your daily meals.
Vitamins and minerals are essential to healthy development of your baby, as well as your own physical health. Be sure to speak with your doctor about nutrition before you conceive if you are planning to get pregnant in the near future, or as soon as you know you are pregnant.

Compiled using information from the following sources:
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Medicines Comprehensive Database. 4th ed. Stockton, CA: Therapeutic Research Faculty; 2002: pg
735, 1274, 1281, 1287 and 1379.
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Williams Obstetrics Twenty-Second Ed. Cunningham, F. Gary, et al Ch 8.