Prenatal vitamins can be an excellent source of vitamins for women who are trying to become pregnant, or who are already pregnant. Specifically designed for providing the necessary nutrients to a fetus, prenatal vitamins contain the minimum dosage of folic acid recommended by virtually every medical authority. Most prenatal vitamins contain between 600 µg and 1,000 µg of folic acid, which is easier for the body to absorb in this synthetic version, than through food.
Prenatal vitamins are also an excellent source of iron. During pregnancy a woman's body produces much more blood, so the iron can be spread thin and this puts the woman at risk for iron-deficiency anemia. The Centers for Disease Control recommends pregnant women have 30 mg of iron each day, and most prenatal vitamins contain between 27 mg and 60 mg of iron.
Prenatal vitamins are inexpensive and available over the counter at most major stores and pharmacies. If you are trying to become pregnant, or already are pregnant, you should have consistent medical care from a licensed practitioner throughout the pregnancy. Your doctor can further evaluate your needs and advise you on which prenatal vitamins to take, or he/she can prescribe you a vitamin suitable to your specific situation.
© - Reproduced with permission of SexInfo, University of California at Santa Barbara, 2007.