can you take prenatal vitamins long term?
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You may be tempted to take prenatal vitamins because of unproven claims that they promote thicker hair and stronger nails. However, if you're not pregnant and not planning to become pregnant, high levels of certain nutrients over a long period of time may actually be more harmful than helpful.
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It takes a lot of vitamins and minerals to grow a baby! Prenatal vitamins give you extra amounts of these three key nutrients for pregnant women: Folic acid helps your baby's brain and spinal cord develop correctly. This nutrient reduces the risk of serious birth defects called spina bifida and anencephaly.
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Prenatal vitamins are particularly important for these women. Doctors often recommend that women who are breastfeeding also continue taking prenatal vitamins after delivery. Prenatal vitamins can serve as a further supplement to lactating women who need plenty of nutrients to make breast milk.
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Best time to take prenatal vitamins Since prenatal vitamins are a multivitamin, taking them before lunch is an optimal time to absorb all that they contain. A good prenatal vitamin will include calcium, iron, and folic acid, according to the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG).
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When do I need to start taking prenatal vitamins? Start taking folic acid at least 1 month before you start trying to get pregnant. The first few weeks of pregnancy are a really important time for fetal health and development. Taking folic acid and other prenatal vitamins can help reduce the risk of some birth defects.
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Take Your Vitamins Doctors used to tell women to take folic acid as soon as they got pregnant. Now, experts suggest starting a prenatal vitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid before you try to have a baby. This important nutrient prevents spinal defects in growing babies. See if your prenatal vitamin has DHA.
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Ideally, you'll start taking prenatal vitamins before conception. In fact, it's generally a good idea for women of reproductive age to regularly take a prenatal vitamin.
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But according to the Mayo Clinic, neural tube defects can start forming during week six. This is why both experts say it's ideal for prenatal vitamins to be consistently taken before pregnancy. “It's best to start taking prenatal vitamins at least one to two months before beginning to try to conceive,” says Earthman.
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Women are often advised to continue to take prenatal vitamins as long as they are breastfeeding and these vitamins often include a large dose of iron. The iron levels in a mother's milk are not affected by the amount of iron in her diet or by iron supplements she may take.
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Taking prenatal vitamins even after pregnancy is a recommended option. They work well as postnatal vitamins, since your breast milk will continue to provide important nutrients for your baby. Make sure your supplements include essential nutrients such as folic acid, iron, Vitamin D, fish oil, and calcium.
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Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated to meet your needs and those of your growing baby. A regular multivitamin may meet your own health needs, but it won't meet the needs of both you and your baby.
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“We found no evidence to recommend that all pregnant women should take prenatal multi-nutrient supplements beyond the nationally advised folic acid and vitamin D supplements." The researchers reviewed data from dozens of previous studies examining the effects of taking multivitamin supplements in pregnant women.
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During pregnancy, take a prenatal vitamin each day that has 600 mcg of folic acid in it. Folic acid only works to prevent NTDs before and during the first few weeks of pregnancy. Later in pregnancy, you need 600 mcg of folic acid each day to help your baby grow and develop.
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Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Your dose needs may be different during pregnancy. Some vitamins and minerals can be harmful if taken in large doses. You may need to use a specially formulated prenatal vitamin.
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Reduce risk of birth defects. Perhaps the most important (and best publicized) reason to take a prenatal vitamin is for the folic acid (vitamin B9, or folate when it's in food form) it contains.
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In a nutshell: Yes. Our experts are here to answer your questions when it comes to making sure you're getting the nutrients you and baby need. If you've got baby on the brain, you should start taking a prenatal vitamin three months before you begin trying to get pregnant, if possible.
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Prenatal vitamins are supplements that contain daily vitamins and minerals you need before and during your pregnancy. Folic acid is the most important vitamin to take when planning a pregnancy. Folic acid is a B vitamin that cells in your body need for growing and developing.