by Donna Electas

Created on: October 18, 2008   Last Updated: October 28, 2008

When should I start taking prenatal vitamins? The number one bestselling pregnancy book What to Expect When You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel recommends that women start taking prenatal vitamins two months before trying to conceive. Women should continue taking the prenatal vitamins both during and after pregnancy, until the baby is weaned from breastfeeding.

For proper neural development, it is ideal that the proper building blocks are already in the mother's system before the baby is conceived. The baby's neural tube begins to close within the first month of pregnancy. When a pregnancy is unplanned, the mother should start taking prenatal vitamins as soon as she discovers she is pregnant.

Prenatal vitamins are merely supplements and should not replace a healthy diet. Before trying to conceive, women should be sure that they are eating foods rich in folic acid (also known as folate) such as certain breakfast cereals, broccoli, asparagus, and leafy green vegetables. Once a woman begins taking prenatal supplements, she should stop taking other nutritional supplements. Excesses of certain nutrients can be harmful to both the mother and baby.

A healthy diet alone is nonetheless insufficient for most women to provide the amount of nutrients sufficient for a healthy pregnancy. Without supplementation, many women ingest insufficient folic acid and iron from their diets alone. A prenatal vitamin is insurance that the developing baby receives an adequate amount of nutrients for proper development.

When selecting a prenatal vitamin, choose one that contains at least 400 mcg of folic acid to prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord (such as spina bifida), and to prevent preterm birth. Further, the prenatal vitamin should contain 250 milligrams of calcium to help develop strong bones in the baby, as well as to maintain the strength of the mother's bones. The prenatal vitamin should also contain a minimum of ten milligrams of vitamin B6 to help reduce the number of episodes of vomiting and nausea during pregnancy, especially when first taken prior to conception.

A popular brand of prenatal vitamin is PrimaCare ONE, available by prescription only. It contains the recommended doses of folic acid and vitamin B6, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, which also help the baby's brain development. If you are planning to conceive, it is highly recommendable that you schedule an appointment with your gynecologist to discuss which prenatal vitamin is right for you.

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