Making sure you take prenatal vitamins is a good, healthy habit to get into both while you are trying to conceive and also throughout your pregnancy.
Good nutrition and making sure you get a well-balanced diet is of extreme importance when it comes to preparing your body for pregnancy, and also for staying healthy and nourished while carrying a baby.
Prenatal vitamins can be an easy thing to overlook the imporatance of, especailly if you feel like you are already eating pretty healthy.
However, it is important to keep in mind that prenatal vitamins – provided they contain all the right ingredients – can both increase your chances of getting pregnant quicker and also provide the essential building blocks for a healthy baby.
Confused about what to look for when buying a prenatal vitamin? Dr Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D. – author of The Impatient Woman's Guide to Getting Pregnant, recently explained to
Mini Magazine that many studies have shown that prenatal vitamins that include folate and vitamin B6 can dramatically increase your chances of conception. Importantly, Omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil) have also been linked to better embryos in IVF and smarter babies overall. And what’s more, there is strong evidence that prenatal vitamins lower the chance of birth defects, so you should begin taking them immediately if you are not already.
As for what to look for, here is Dr Twenge's top advice:
Your prenatal vitamin should include the following
- 400 mcg of Folic Acid
- Excellent source of Vitamins A, C, D & E per serving
- 100 mg of Calcium
- 50 mg of Omega-3 DHA
- Excellent source of Iodine per serving
- Gluten-free
- No iron added, so they’re gentle on the stomach
