What Are Prenatal Vitamins And Why Are They Necessary?

Prenatal vitamins are a multivitamin designed for the special nutritional needs of pregnant women. They are a combination of many different types of vitamins and minerals.

It is important not to take more than the recommended dose of any vitamin or supplement, especially during pregnancy. Just like having too few vitamins and minerals in your diet can be harmful, an excessive dosage of some vitamins and minerals can cause serious health issues for both the mother and the unborn baby. This is especially true for vitamin A, D, E and K.

Excessive dosage of vitamins and minerals can cause excessive urination, stomach bleeding, uneven heart rate, and muscle weakness. However, a shortage of some vitamins and minerals, especially iron and folic acid, can cause the mother to be tired and run down and the baby to have birth defects.

It is important to take the prenatal vitamins on a regular basis to get the best benefit from them. Women who are pregnant, or planning on becoming pregnant, should start taking prenatal vitamins early, as this will help prevent birth defects.

All vitamins and supplements should be taken with a full glass of water or juice. Chewable vitamins may be dissolved in water or fruit juice if you have a hard time swallowing pills. Do not use milk for this purpose.

Be sure and inform your doctor if you are taking any supplements. He may prescribe a special prenatal vitamin if you have special needs.