The Real Reasons You Should Take Prenatal Vitamins
Most women have at least heard of prenatal vitamins before…
The general population knows, simply put, that we should be taking prenatal vitamins when we are pregnant, but do any of us really know why we are supposed to be taking them? How about the fact that we should start taking them when we decide to get pregnant? There is a lot that we just take at face value regarding women’s reproductive health, but we shouldn’t have to. Understanding why prenatal vitamins are important is a valuable asset to your health journey and pregnancy.
What are prenatal vitamins?
Bare with me real quick while we walk back to the basics. Prenatal vitamins were created because many women experience a change in their vitamin levels and needs during pregnancy. Your baby needs all of the right nutrients to grow properly inside of you and prenatal vitamins are meant to fill any gaps in your vitamin consumption. Think of it as a vitamin safety net, if you will. You are covering all of your nutritional bases with these helpful pills to keep yourself in top notch shape for your baby.
When should you start taking prenatal vitamins?
Um… when I get pregnant, duh!
Actually, while not wrong, it is a common misconception that prenatal vitamins are solely reserved for those who are currently pregnant. In fact, doctors highly recommend women who are trying to get pregnant to start taking a prenatal vitamin and for women who are breastfeeding post pregnancy to continue taking their prenatal vitamin as well. You can buy prenatal vitamins over the counter so it is not hard to snag a bottle. However, your doctor can prescribe them for you if need be.
Taking a prenatal vitamin before you are actually pregnant may feel odd or like you are jumping the gun, but in actuality, adding this supplement to your daily diet while you are trying to conceive can help your body build a backlog of vitamins, so to speak, that will immediately go into use the second you get pregnant. Remember, your baby is snagging all of its nutrients directly from you so it is important to keep yourself in tip top shape.
Also, you don’t even have to be trying to get pregnant to take a prenatal vitamin. Technically, if you could potentially become pregnant unexpectedly, it is a good idea to add prenatal vitamins or even just a folic acid supplement to the mix. This can be a very beneficial addition to your health journey. However, it is always advised to speak to your doctor before taking any new supplements to make sure it is right for you. Every body is a little different, so we have to treat each one as the individual it is.
So… what’s the consensus?
Whether you are currently pregnant or trying to conceive, adding a prenatal vitamin to the mix should be high amongst your priorities. Don’t panic if you are currently pregnant and have not started taking a prenatal vitamin. Just talk to your doctor and get yourself a bottle as soon as you can. You also don’t want to overload your system with too many nutrients, but prenatal vitamins were created with pregnant women and their nutritional needs in mind.
Happy health, happy balance, and happy pregnancy!