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Vitamins for Pregnancy
Getting Your Daily Dose of Prenatal Vitamins
By Crystal Patriarche
According to Britvan, folate (folic acid), calcium and iron are the three most important things to consider when thinking of getting pregnant.
"One of the main things to consider when prepping for pregnancy is folic acid, an important B vitamin responsible for and used in the replication of DNA and chemical reactions that happen when you multiply cells," says Toni Bloom, a registered dietitian in San Jose, Calif. "This is why most prenatals have 800 micrograms."
The normal dietary recommendations are 400 micrograms for any female over 14. In pregnancy, the recommended amount is 600 and prenatals give us typically 800, Bloom says.
Folic acid is most important in early pregnancy, when the neural tube (brain and spine) is being formed. This usually happens in the first few months of the pregnancy. During lactation or post-pregnancy, the recommended intake of folic acid is 500 micrograms, so down a bit from pregnancy but still in the mid-range, Bloom says.
Calcium, which is important for bone health, heart muscle and nerve function and is involved in building skeleton, is in greater demand during pregnancy. "Calcium is important for bone health, in Mom and Baby," Britvan says. "The baby is going to take everything from Mom, so if Mom is not getting enough or does not have enough stored, she will become deficient. It's rare for Baby to become deficient."
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