By consuming the 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid in your prenatal vitamin daily, you can lower your risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect. There’s plenty of research that’s demonstrated a strong link between taking folic acid during pregnancy and preventing neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. “These key ingredients are needed specifically for spine, bone, brain and red blood cell development,” she says. During pregnancy, women need additional folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids to help support the growth and development of a healthy baby, explains Sherry Ross, M.D., an OB/GYN at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. What are the benefits of taking a prenatal vitamin?Įating a healthy diet is one of the best things you can do for your body and your growing baby during pregnancy-and this starts with ensuring that your plate is filled with the optimal nutrients. Prenatals are designed to be taken orally once daily, ideally starting at least one month prior to conception, according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

They’re very similar to a women’s multivitamin with the addition of key nutrients, such as folic acid, iron, and calcium that help facilitate a healthy pregnancy, explains Kameelah Phillips, M.D., an OB/GYN in New York City. That’s where prenatal vitamins come in, as they’re specially formulated to keep you and your baby healthy. (Even the healthiest eaters likely aren’t getting enough of the nutrients they need!) Doing so increases your chances of having a healthy pregnancy-and baby-by filling in the nutritional gaps that may exist in your diet. Whether you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, you’ve probably heard that it’s important to take a daily prenatal vitamin.

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