The most important prenatal supplement is Folic acid and should be taken before the first prenatal visit. As soon as pregnancy is contemplated or suspected 600 micrograms of Folic acid daily is recommended. Additionally, calcium and iron are the two most important prenatal minerals. The over-the -counter supplements with the USP (U.S. Pharmacopeia) seals are appropriate.
All multivitamin supplements that are sold would not be appropriate during pregnancy. Therefore you need to show them to your physician to see if they contain the right and safe ingredients. If your prenatal supplement does not have sufficient calcium, then calcium supplementation is needed. The reason most prenatal supplements do not contain the necessary 1,000 milligrams per day dose, is that adding extra calcium to the multivitamin might render it unstable. You need to take 1,000 mg of calcium daily and most prenatal supplements contain only 150 or 250 mg of calcium. Also vitamin D 3 is very important and everyone, pregnant or not needs additional Vitamin D3.
During pregnancy 200 IU is required. Pregnant women need at least 200 mg of DHA per day. This omega -3 fatty acid is essential for the baby’s brain development. Fish oil capsules are also a good source. Other very important vitamins and minerals are vitamin B, zinc and iron. During the second half of pregnancy iron deficiency is more common. If you have nausea when you take your supplements, it is best to take them at bedtime.