During pregnancy, your body needs extra nutrients to help build your child's new body and to keep you healthy through all the changes the process brings. In addition to eating more, OB-GYNs recommend taking specially formulated vitamins as part of your prenatal care. While you should talk to your doctor about the right option for you, here are the answers to some of the most common questions about prenatal vitamins to get you started.

Prenatal Vitamins FAQ

How are prenatal vitamins different from ordinary multivitamins?

Prenatal vitamins have similar ingredients to many multivitamins, with two big exceptions. Since pregnancy can cause anemia or problems with your red blood cell count, prenatal vitamins contain extra iron to boost your red blood cells. The vitamins also have extra folic acid, which protects your baby against birth defects in their brain and spine.

What else do they contain?

In addition to iron and folic acid, vitamins designed for prenatal care contain calcium and vitamin D. Other components vary, but they can include vitamins A, C, and E, and omega-3 fatty acids. They may also contain zinc, iodine, and copper. Each component varies by manufacturer and formula.

How should I choose a vitamin brand?

Consider your diet and check whether it contains all of these nutrients in the amounts you need. For instance, if you already eat lots of fish, spinach, walnuts, and soy, you may already be getting all the omega-3s you need, so you can focus on other nutrients. If you can't find a prenatal vitamin that has what you need, you can make up for it by taking additional supplements. For help making the decision, you can also talk to your gynecologist.

When should I start taking prenatal vitamins?

Ideally, anyone who might become pregnant should be taking vitamins, including folic acid, especially if they’re trying for a baby. Folic acid is most critical during the first month of pregnancy since that's when the brain and spinal cord start to develop. If you're already pregnant, then the sooner you start your prenatal care, including vitamins, the better.

For quality prenatal care in St. Louis County, visit Advanced OB-GYN Services. Based in both Saint Peters, and Bridgeton, MO, for over 30 years, and led by board-certified OB-GYN, Dr. Joseph Hazan, they are on call 24/7 and offer same-day appointments for emergencies. To schedule, call the St. Peters office at (636) 928-1800, or call the Bridgeton office at (314) 291-2140. Go online to learn more about their services.