Prenatal and Pregnancy

Prenatal vitamins are one of the most important vitamins that you take through out
your pregnancy. Ideally, you should start taking prenatal vitamins when you are
trying to conceive a baby. By taking prenatal while you are trying to conceive,
you are preparing your body for the challenging task that lies ahead. Some experts
believe that taking prenatal before you are pregnant might actually reduce your
risk of a miscarriage after you become pregnant.

Taking prenatal before pregnancy is not always possible for some people, but taking
them during pregnancy is essential. Prenatal vitamins contain one of the most
important nutrients that a new mother needs and that are folic acid or folate. By
taking in extra folic acid, you lower your chances of your baby being born with an
incomplete spinal column which is known as spina bifida. In order for your baby to
be protected, it is imperative that folic acid is taken in the first four weeks of
fetal development.

This can be a problem for women who do not take prenatals before they are pregnant.
Most of the time, most women do not know they are pregnant until after they missed
their period which is about two weeks after conception. This is why if you are of
child bearing age, you should make it a habit of taking folic acid even if you are
not planning to become pregnant and we all know that not all pregnancies are
planned.

You can still get your folic acid in food. Folic acid is added to many breads and
pastas and is found in dark green and orange fruits as well as vegetables. Keep in
mind though that taking a daily supplement of folic acid offers more protection
from spina bifida then eating the same amount of folic acid in food.

While you are pregnant you should aim to take at least 600mcg of folic acid a day.
If you have had a baby with a neural tube defect, you will have to take 4000 mcg or
4 milligrams of folic acid every day, starting at least a month before you get
pregnant.

Some women report that they can not take their prenatals especially in their first
trimester. Women who suffer from morning sickness and food aversions find that
they can not eat much food. Taking a prenatal on an empty stomach can leave you
feeling sick and queasy which is why so many women in the first trimester do not
take them. Another reason some women report upset stomachs is due to the high
iron level that some prenatals have. Not only could this cause an upset stomach,
this can also lead to constipation which can already be a problem for some pregnant
women.

If you find that you can not take your prenatal, talk to your doctor to see if he
can give you a prenatal with less iron or give you a folic acid supplement also.
The worst thing you could do is not take anything, especially during those first
few weeks.