Prenatal vitamins are known to be something that is meant to help you with your pregnancy. This pill can really pack a huge punch when it comes to having a very healthy pregnancy. So, the main question would be when should you begin to take a prenatal vitamin?
You should begin taking them before you conceive
Normally you would begin taking prenatal vitamins before you even get pregnant. There are some issues in taking prenatal vitamins if you aren’t pregnant and aren’t planning on getting pregnant. This would allow you to make sure that you are going to be the healthiest that you have been before you even try to get pregnant. Taking them while you are trying to conceive is a really great idea and it can help you to prevent certain birth defects. If you happen to have any preconception checkups, then your doctor or midwife has probably already suggested for you to begin taking prenatal vitamins. They may even have given you a prescription or suggested which brand you should purchase.
Even if you are not planning to get pregnant, you should take prenatal vitamins if you are on birth control in case something happens and you end up pregnant. You will need a lot of folic acid to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
You should also begin them when you are pregnant
Don’t freak out. There are a lot of people out there that aren’t taking any type of prenatal vitamin whenever they find out that they are pregnant, but don’t worry. If you have just found out that you are pregnant, you can start taking prenatal vitamins immediately. If you won’t have a doctor’s appointment for a while, then call your doctor and ask for advice. If they don’t have any suggestions, or ask you to wait, you can always find a generic prenatal vitamin at your local grocery store or drug store or you could try one of the popular brands like Spring Valley or Garden of Life.
Most people may be taking a standard multivitamin before their pregnancy. Having a multivitamin is great to help you to balance out all of the vitamins and mineral intakes for those who aren’t pregnant. Even though it isn’t the most ideal prenatal vitamin, because it won’t have the right amount of certain vitamins, it may give you a bit of protection for the time before you were even pregnant.
If you happen to have any type of questions or concerns about your vitamins whether it be what is in it or the timing, just remember there is a lot of flexibility. Talking to your doctor or even your midwife may help you to make sure that you are getting everything that you are going to need in order to have a healthy pregnancy. The prenatal vitamins are just an insurance policy to help reduce some risks. You, in the end, are the one who is ultimately responsible for having a healthy pregnancy lifestyle, which includes diet, prenatal care and exercise.
Leave a Reply