Prenatal vitamins how many a day

Because omega-3s are so important for your baby, it's a good idea to talk with your healthcare practitioner about whether you need a supplement.

Your body needs this fat-soluble vitamin to help build your baby's bones and teeth. Vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining levels of calcium and phosphorus.

If you're lacking vitamin D during pregnancy, your baby may be short on the vitamin at birth. This can put your child at risk for rickets which can lead to fractures and deformity , abnormal bone growth, and delayed physical development.

A deficiency of vitamin D has also been linked to a greater risk of developing pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes , but more research is needed to confirm these links.

To find out how much vitamin D you need and how to get it, see our complete article on vitamin D in your pregnancy diet. Some other vitamins and minerals that may be good to have in your prenatal vitamins include iodine which may help keep your thyroid healthy during pregnancy and choline needed for your baby's brain growth.

Because folic acid is so important in the earliest weeks of your pregnancy, ideally you would start taking prenatal vitamins before you conceive — that's why many doctors recommend them for women who might become pregnant. And if you breastfeed your baby, your doctor might recommend you continue taking prenatal vitamins even after your baby is born.

Unfortunately, no standards have been set for what should be in vitamin and mineral supplements because the Food and Drug Administration doesn't regulate them. That means it's up to you and your healthcare practitioner to make sure you choose one that's safe and appropriate for you. See our article on buying supplements for more guidance.

At your first prenatal checkup or at a preconception visit, your practitioner will probably prescribe a daily vitamin or recommend an over-the-counter brand. Note: Make sure you don't take any other vitamin or mineral supplements while you're taking a prenatal supplement unless your practitioner recommends it.

Unsure what prenatal vitamins to choose? Check out these best prenatal vitamins and supplements. Consult with your provider first to make sure any supplement you take during pregnancy is appropriate for your unique needs. Don't worry. Taking twice the recommended amounts of these nutrients on just one day won't harm you or your baby. But taking a double dose more often can be harmful, so it's important not to do it regularly.

If your practitioner says you need more of a certain nutrient than your prenatal vitamin provides, take the additional amount as a separate supplement. Prenatal vitamin and mineral supplements tend to be pretty big. They can be hard to swallow, especially if you're dealing with nausea. If this is a problem for you, your practitioner may be able to recommend a smaller pill or one with a slick coating that makes it easier to get down.

Pills that don't contain calcium tend to be smaller, and you can get your calcium in other ways. Chewable prenatal vitamins are also available. There's even a powdered pregnancy supplement that you mix with water. So if you don't like one version, keep trying different options until you find a prenatal supplement you can take. If you're taking a supplement with more than the recommended 30 mg of iron, it may upset your gastrointestinal tract.

Supplements that contain 30 mg or less probably won't cause you any problems. To avoid queasiness, try taking your supplement at bedtime or with a meal to make it easier to tolerate. Also, talk to your healthcare practitioner. She may be able to recommend a different prenatal supplement. Taking a lot of iron can lead to constipation , which is already a problem for many pregnant women. Start taking folic acid at least 1 month before becoming pregnant and continue throughout your pregnancy to lower the risk of birth defects in the brain or spine.

Folate is found naturally in many foods like leafy green vegetables, fortified cereals, and rice along with nuts and beans. Even if you maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet, it is best to fortify your folic acid levels with supplements.

Between — micrograms is recommended each day, but you should check with Dedicated to Women ObGyn about your best dose before starting any new type of regimen. Always helpful to build strong bones, calcium is especially beneficial during pregnancy. If your baby is lacking in calcium, he or she will get it from you, so it is important to maintain mg a day to prevent your own bone loss. Verify with Dedicated to Women ObGyn the correct amount of vitamin D that you should be consuming on a daily basis.

Just like the others mentioned in this article, vitamin D can be found in many common foods that you likely already enjoy. Start taking 4, mcg at least 3 months before you get pregnant and through the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

You can get too much of other nutrients, which may be harmful to your health. Your provider can help you figure out the best and safest way for you to get the right amount of folic acid. You can also get folic acid from food. Citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables and beans are all excellent sources of folic acid.

Some foods are also enriched with folic acid, such as cereals, bread, rice and pasta. Iron is a mineral. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin, a protein that helps carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. You need twice as much iron during pregnancy than you did before pregnancy.

Your body needs this iron to make more blood so it can carry oxygen to your baby. Your baby needs iron to make his own blood. During pregnancy, you need 27 milligrams of iron each day. Most prenatal vitamins have this amount. You also can get iron from food. Good sources of iron include:. Foods containing vitamin C can increase the amount of iron your body absorbs. It's a good idea to eat foods like orange juice, tomatoes, strawberries and grapefruit every day.

Calcium in dairy products like milk and coffee, tea, egg yolks, fiber and soybeans can block your body from absorbing iron. Try to avoid these when eating iron-rich foods. During pregnancy, you need 1, milligrams of calcium each day. You can get this amount by taking your prenatal vitamin and eating food that has a lot of calcium in it. Good sources of calcium include:.

This can cause health conditions, such as osteoporosis, later in life. Osteoporosis causes your bones become thin and break easily. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium.

Your immune system protects your body from infection. During pregnancy, you need IU international units of vitamin D each day. You can get this amount from food or your prenatal vitamin. Good sources of vitamin D include:. Docosahexaenoic acid DHA is a kind of fat called omega-3 fatty acid that helps with growth and development. During pregnancy, it is recommended that women eat 8 to 12 ounces of seafood low in mercury each week. Good sources of DHA include:.

Iodine is a mineral your body needs to make thyroid hormones, which help your body use and store energy from food. The nervous system brain, spinal cord and nerves helps your baby move, think and feel.

During pregnancy, you need micrograms of iodine every day. Not all prenatal vitamins contain iodine, so make sure you eat foods that have iodine in them. Ask your provider if you need to take an iodine supplement.