Pregnancy Vitamins And Minerals.

Prenatal Vitamins
How important is it for me to take prenatal vitamins?
It's very important to take prenatal vitamins for your entire pregnancy. Sometimes late in pregnancy a woman stops taking them she gets tired of taking them or she decides they aren't necessary. The vitamins and iron in prenatal vitamins are essential to the well-being of your baby, so be sure you take them until your baby is born.

I usually take a lot of vitamins, but my doctor advised me to take only a prenatal vitamin during pregnancy. Why?
Too much of a good thing can be harmful. Some vitamins accumulate in your body's tissues when taken in mega doses and can have an adverse effect on you and your baby. Megadoses of vitamin A can cause birth defects when taken during pregnancy. Vitamins D, E and K in megadoses may also be harmful. Follow your doctor's advice, take a prenatal vitamin and eat nutritious, well-balanced meals to get the vitamins and minerals you and your baby need.

Folic Acid
My friend is pregnant, and she's taking folic acid in addition to her prenatal vitamins. Is that something I need to do?
Most women don't need to take extra folic acid during pregnancy. (Folic acid, also called folate, is found naturally in green leafy vegetables.) A deficiency in folate can result in a type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia. Additional folate may be necessary when requirements are unusually high, such as in a woman carrying multiple fetuses or suffering from alcoholism or Crohn's disease. Prenatal vitamins have 0.8 to 1mg of folic acid in each pill, which should be sufficient for a normal pregnancy.

Is it true that some foods are fortified with folic acid?
Yes. Many bread and cereal products are fortified with folic acid. Read labels of products you normally buy.

I've read that if a woman has a baby with spina bifida, she needs extra folic acid in later pregnancies. Is that true?
Studies indicate a women who has had a baby with a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida, may be able to reduce her chances of having another baby with the same problems if she takes extra folic acid before pregnancy and through early pregnancy.

Other Minerals
Do I need mineral supplements during my pregnancy?
The only mineral supplement you need during pregnancy is iron. The average woman's diet seldom contains enough iron to meet the increased demands of pregnancy. Your blood volume increases by 50% in a normal pregnancy, and iron is an important part of blood production in your body.

Does it really make a difference if I don't take an iron supplement?
Prenatal vitamins contain some iron but you may need to take extra iron. One of the first tests your doctor does is for anemia. If he or she determines that you need an iron supplement, you must take it for your health and that of your baby.

Won't iron make me constipated?
Constipation can be a side effect of taking iron. Work with your doctor to find the correct amount of iron to avoid side effects.