The benefits of Prenatal Vitamins Before Pregnancy

Is it really essential to take prenatal vitamins before really being pregnant? The answer is a resounding yes. With in the present day's quick-paced diets, most women don't derive all the nutrition their bodies need - particularly when creating a baby.

It's a good concept to begin taking a very good prenatal vitamin while you are in the planning phases of pregnancy. The principle cause, and doubtless the most important cause, is the ingredient folic acid. Folic acid is extraordinarily essential to assist prevent birth defects - particularly neuro tube defects within the baby. If taken proper before and most positively throughout pregnancy, it should go a long way within the prevention of these birth defects.

It is true that folic acid is in certain foods, similar to orange juice, green leafy vegetables, beans and also is added to a number of today's favorite cereals and enriched grain products. But truly, you still want a supplement to obtain all the folic acid that may benefit the baby.

Ask your care provider about which brand of prenatal vitamin to take. Some will prescribe an excellent prenatal - others will say an over-the-counter brand works just as well. The necessary thing is to make sure it has at the least 400mcg of folic acid in each dose. Most multi-vitamins have at least this much. Most over-the-counter prenatal vitamins have 800mcg of folic acid and the prescribed prenatal has a whopping 1000mcg of folic acid. 1000mcg of folic acid is the highest "safe" amount of folic acid to take per day.

Folic acid is not the one benefit of prenatal vitamins. A superb prenatal vitamin can have a well-rounded quantity of all the essential vitamins and iron wanted to keep up a healthy pregnancy. A number of the prenatal vitamins that can be bought at a health food store will have herbs in them as well. I strongly suggest asking your doctor first earlier than taking any supplement particularly those with added herbs. Other than the nutritional benefit, prenatal vitamins normally help women to have strong healthy nails and hair as well.