Here is what you need to know about prenatal vitamins

• Prenatal vitamins are supplements that people are generally encouraged to take during pregnancy as they can help feed both the pregnant person and his developing child.
• Folate, iron and vitamin D are some of the most common prenatal vitamins that doctors recommend to pregnant women.
• Overall, to find out what prenatal vitamins you should take and at which dosage, consult your doctor.
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Getting enough nutrients is important for anyone's health, but when a person becomes (or tries to become) pregnant, his body often needs extra vitamins to better feed himself and his child.

Thus, pregnant people are often encouraged to take prenatal vitamins.

Here's what you need to know about prenatal vitamins and some of the most common vitamins commonly used by pregnant women.

Do not forget that even though knowing this information about prenatal vitamins may be helpful, if you are pregnant or are trying to conceive, you may want to consult a doctor for professional medical advice.

What are prenatal vitamins?

Dr. Jonathan Schaffir, an OB / GYN from the Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University, told INSIDER that prenatal vitamins were supplements that people took before and during their pregnancy to replace nutrients that a fetus was pulling from the circulation of the person wearing them.

In simple terms, prenatal vitamins are beneficial for the pregnant woman, but they can also contribute to the early development of the fetus.

Read more: How your fertility changes over the years

What prenatal vitamins should pregnant women take?

There are many prenatal vitamins with different dosages on the market, but in the end, the prenatal vitamins that a person should take depend on an individual's nutrition level before pregnancy and his or her problems of personal health.

Often, a person's tolerance to supplements can also be a factor, Schaffir told INSIDER.

Many prenatal vitamins are usually multifunctional, which means that they provide a combination of vitamins and minerals to those who take them. And while all may seem necessary, many may not be, especially if you consume these nutrients in your diet.

As with everything about your health, consult a doctor to find out which combination of prenatal vitamins is best for you.

What are some of the commonly prescribed prenatal vitamins?

Dr. Adeeti Gupta, founder of Walk-In GYN Care, told INSIDER that some essential nutrients are essential for a healthy pregnancy.

Here are some commonly prescribed vitamins that your doctor might suggest you take.

folate

Folate is an essential vitamin that helps the body perform many different tasks, Gupta told INSIDER.

It is also commonly prescribed as a supplement because folate deficiency can lead to some type of anemia (a condition related to a lack of healthy red blood cells) and can also, in some cases, lead to malformations of the body. spinal column of the fetus.

In particular, a person who has a folate deficiency or who has had a spinal cord defect during an earlier pregnancy may be advised to take a much higher dose of folate prior to conception in order to reduce the risks the same defect, explained Gupta.

Read more: 5 subtle signs of common blood disorder, anemia

The iron

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), iron deficiency during pregnancy may increase the risk of iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women and the risk of low birth weight, premature birth and premature birth. iron in infants.

In addition, iron is essential to improve and maintain the ability of oxygen to carry blood. As the amount of blood in a person's body increases during pregnancy, extra iron supplementation is often needed in a pregnant woman, explained Gupta.

Vitamin D

Gupta said it's also important that pregnant women get enough vitamin D because it is badociated with a number of possible benefits, including strengthening bone health in pregnant women .

While you may want to take extra supplements, you can also add more vitamin D to your diet by eating high-fiber foods such as soy, spinach and kale.

Read more: Here's what you need to eat to get a full day of vitamin D

Iodine

According to the NIH, iodine is a "trace element" naturally present in certain foods. It is essential for thyroid functionality, metabolic activity, and "good skeletal and central nervous system development in fetuses and infants."

But many pregnant women do not consume enough iodine, especially during the first or second trimester, so they may need an iodine supplement.

"The thyroid is the motor of the body and iodine deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism, which can lead to miscarriage and premature labor," explained Gupta.

Folic acid

Folic acid, a kind of synthetic form of vitamin B folate, is important for pregnant women and those who try to conceive.

"[Folic acid] should be completed even before a woman conceives, "Schaffir explained. It prevents defects in the brain that can develop even before a woman knows that she is pregnant. "

When should people start taking prenatal vitamins?

Schaffir told INSIDER that since most vitamin requirements increase as the fetus grows, a pregnant woman should definitely take prenatal vitamins throughout her pregnancy, but especially during the second half of her pregnancy.

Should you take more prenatal vitamins if you wear multiple doses?

"Some women have special requirements that go beyond the norm. [For example,] women [carrying] twins or triplets may require more supplements, "Schaffir told INSIDER.

Again, you may want to consult your doctor to make sure you take the right amount of vitamins for your pregnancy.