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How effective is taking prenatal vitamins when trying to conceive?
Does taking prenatal vitamins when trying to conceive increase your chances of getting pregnant? I have been taking half a prenatal vitamin every day for almost 3 months now.
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#4 written by Kim 2 years ago
You are not increasing your chances of getting pregnant but you are increasing your chances of having a healthy baby when you get pregnant. Good job too many people start taking the vitamins when they find out they are pregnant, what you are doing is wonderful! Good luck sending lots of baby dust your way! Take a whole vitamin though doesn’t hurt you to take the whole one.
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It does not. Folic acid can prevent miscarriages by reducing the chance of neural tube defects. It is possible that anemia can prevent pregnancy, but this seems to be more associated with someone who has general severe malnutrition or pernicious anemia (caused by a Vit. B12 deficiency).
Prenatal vitamins are intended for women who are already pregnant. If you were at risk, cutting it in half doesn’t really help you much. Infertility specialists recommend them because those going through infertility have frequent blood draws, which can create an anemic situation. For ordinary women, you can use ordinary vitamins and additional folic acid if you are overweight or are at risk for a neural tube defect. Vitamins in pills do not make up for a bad diet.
If you eat your 5 a day (5 fruits and vegetables), drink milk, eat meat (which is higher in iron than other protein sources), eat eggs and limit junk food, fast food and processed food, you have most of what you need without a vitamin. I would still add a folic acid supplement because that HAS been shown to have a significant reduction in neural tube defects and it’s hard to know if you have adequate amounts.
I would also like to remind folks that vitamins ARE DRUGS! They can cause injury. Too much iron, for instance, over time can cause organ damage.