How important are prenatal vitamins? Are there supplements that pregnant women must take throughout their pregnancy? Today, Parents Ask expert Dr. Jason Rothbart explains why prenatal vitamins are important and what additional supplements are needed.

Q:  How important is taking prenatal vitamins? Can I just take folic acid? What about DHA?

A: Prenatal vitamins are an important component of pregnancy, especially in the preconception period and first trimester.  These vitamins are used to supplement the nutritional needs of a pregnant female or one trying to get pregnant. Most prenatal vitamins contain greater amounts of folic acid, iron, and calcium than standard adult multivitamins.  Taking folic acid before the pregnancy and during the first 12 weeks can help prevent certain birth defects, and the body is making so much extra blood that you need 3-4 times the usual amount of iron every day. A prenatal multivitamin will help you get enough of these and other essential nutrients in your diet.

They can be taken with or without food, and in the morning or at bedtime. Basically, they can be taken whenever they feel the best.  Some of the prenatal vitamins may cause constipation and upset stomach, (due to the extra iron) though most prenatal vitamins have stool softeners in them. Additional remedies can also be used (stool softeners, increased fiber etc).

Most prenatal vitamins today do and should come with DHA supplements as well, either formulated into the same daily pill, or added as a second pill. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), also known as omega 3 fatty acids, is a necessary structural component of the brain and eye and therefore plays a major role in the development of the brain and the retina in infants . The body's ability to produce sufficient DHA for optimal health and development is probably inadequate, therefore DHA supplementation during the prenatal and early postnatal periods appears to have modest beneficial effects on neurodevelopmental and cognitive outcome of offspring.

There are many different brands and formulations of prenatal vitamins on the market, some that are over the counter and some that may be prescribed by your practioner. They are all slightly different, but essentially the same, and any of them will be adequate. And again, if one brand or formulation causes an upset stomach or just doesnt feel good, you can try different kinds until you find the one that is right for you.

As a general rule, we usually recommend avoiding use of herbal medicines in pregnancy. The practitioner has no control over the strength or purity of the individual herbs; and herbal preparations can interact with commonly prescribed medications and lead to dangerous side effects.

See Also:
 

-Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy