Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPrenatal Vitamin BenefitsWhat They ContainWhen to Take ThemSide EffectsWhat to Look ForOther Nutrients
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Prenatal Vitamin Benefits
What They Contain
When to Take Them
Side Effects
What to Look For
Other Nutrients
Although it is possible to meet many of these requirements with diet alone, most healthcare providers recommend prenatal supplementation. Prenatal supplements often combine folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D, and other micronutrients. The nutrients and doses vary among brands, so it’s important to carefully read the label before purchasing.
Supplement Safety
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate dietary supplements the way it does for prescription medications. As a result, some supplement products may not contain the ingredients listed on the label.
1. Folic Acid Prevents Neural Tube Defects
Research has shown that consuming adequatefolic acidin the diet or with supplementation can help to prevent NTDs.Moreover, the FDA has authorized a health claim that adequate intake of folate reduces the risk of NTDs.
In the late 1990s, the FDA mandated folate fortification of some grain products. Since then, the overall incidence of NTDs has declined.
It is recommended that anyone planning to become pregnant begin supplementing 400–800 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily. This should be started one month before becoming pregnant and continue through at least the first two to three months of pregnancy.
2. Iron Reduces Anemia Risk
Iron requirements increase during pregnancy because your blood volume increases during pregnancy.Iron is a mineral needed for the formation ofhemoglobin(an iron-containing protein in red blood cells) and red blood cells (RBCs) to deliver oxygen throughout the body.
Pregnant people, in particular, are susceptible to an iron deficiency, makingiron supplementationan important piece of prenatal care. Signs of anemia may include fatigue, dizziness, weakness, pale skin, or shortness of breath.Supplementing iron during pregnancy reduces the risk of iron deficiency anemia.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommends supplementing iron during pregnancy but does not specify a dose.If you are not getting enough iron or are iron deficient, talk to your healthcare provider so they can determine an appropriate dose to supplement.
3. Prenatal Nutrients Support a Healthy Birth Weight
Meeting nutrient requirements during pregnancy can help support the healthy growth of the fetus.
Another large review of trials evaluating prenatal supplements found that, compared to placebo, supplements reduced the risk of low birth weight babies and babies born small for gestational age (how far along a pregnancy is).
4. Calcium Can Prevent Preeclampsia
Preeclampsiais a condition of high blood pressure during pregnancy.Proteinuria (protein in the urine)orthrombocytopenia(low platelet count) may also be signs of preeclampsia.
Research has shown that supplementingcalciumat 1,000 milligrams (mg) per day may reduce the risk of developing preeclampsia, especially in women who don’t normally get enough calcium in their diet.
You should discuss with your healthcare provider or an RDN whether you get enough calcium through your diet and if you need to supplement.
Supplements taken during pregnancy are often referred to as “prenatal vitamins.” Most of these supplements contain vitamins and the minerals iron and calcium. Some researchers refer to these supplements as MMN supplements for pregnancy.
What Do Prenatal Supplements Contain?
Vitamins and minerals needed during pregnancy can be obtained through a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of foods. However, pregnant people may find it challenging to do this due to nausea and/or vomiting during the first trimester, as well as food aversions (a strong dislike or avoidance of a food).
Prenatal supplements offer an assurance that vitamin and mineral requirements are being met. These supplements often contain:
Some prenatal supplements include nutrients like all B vitamins,vitamin A,omega-3 fatty acids, and more. Although vitamin A requirements are higher during pregnancy, vitamin A supplementation does not appear to offer any benefit.
Below is a chart showing vitamins and minerals whose requirements increase during pregnancy.
When to Take Prenatal Supplements
Ideally, you should begin taking prenatal supplements at least one month before becoming pregnant. For an unplanned pregnancy, start taking prenatal supplements as soon as possible.
It is recommended that you take just one dose of a prenatal vitamin daily. However, the amount of one dose may vary, so you will need to review the supplement fact label.
Do Prenatal Vitamins Help You Get Pregnant?No, prenatal vitamins do not help with fertility or conception. It is recommended to take prenatal vitamins before getting pregnant to ensure that your body gets all the nutrients needed to support the growth and development of a healthy fetus.
Do Prenatal Vitamins Help You Get Pregnant?
No, prenatal vitamins do not help with fertility or conception. It is recommended to take prenatal vitamins before getting pregnant to ensure that your body gets all the nutrients needed to support the growth and development of a healthy fetus.
Potential Side Effects
Prenatal vitamins are generally safe to take with few side effects.
Iron supplements are known to lead toconstipation.If your prenatal supplement contains iron, the following will help prevent or relieve constipation symptoms:
Why You Might Consider Taking Prenatal Vitamins Even If You’re Not Pregnant
Always consult your healthcare provider to determine the best prenatal supplement for you.
Supplements can contain allergens like wheat or eggs, so read the ingredients if you have food allergies.
It is crucial to read the contents of supplements on the supplement fact label. Supplements for prenatal care, at a minimum, should contain:
Nutrient doses in prenatal supplements vary significantly between forms and brands.A 2024 study found that 27% of the 48 unique prenatal vitamins evaluated did not contain the recommended amounts of folic acid. Additionally, none of the products investigated met the daily required amount for calcium.
However, your nutrient requirements can be met through diet and supplementation combined. Therefore, the supplements do not need to contain the daily requirement of each nutrient. Many use the RDAs as a safe dose to look for in a prenatal vitamin.
Discuss supplementation with your healthcare provider so they can help you find the right supplement for your individual needs. For example, a vegetarian may want to make sure their supplement has more iron.
Some prenatal supplements may add additional nutrients to their formulations:
A Word From VerywellPrenatal supplements are not necessarily one-size-fits-all. Nutrient requirements might vary depending on the mother’s health status (e.g., vegetarians may need additional choline and B12; people at risk of preeclampsia might need higher doses of calcium). Avoid doubling up on supplements or exceeding the recommended dosage, as some vitamins (like A) can be toxic to the fetus in high amounts during pregnancy.—MELISSA NIEVES, LND, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Prenatal supplements are not necessarily one-size-fits-all. Nutrient requirements might vary depending on the mother’s health status (e.g., vegetarians may need additional choline and B12; people at risk of preeclampsia might need higher doses of calcium). Avoid doubling up on supplements or exceeding the recommended dosage, as some vitamins (like A) can be toxic to the fetus in high amounts during pregnancy.—MELISSA NIEVES, LND, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Prenatal supplements are not necessarily one-size-fits-all. Nutrient requirements might vary depending on the mother’s health status (e.g., vegetarians may need additional choline and B12; people at risk of preeclampsia might need higher doses of calcium). Avoid doubling up on supplements or exceeding the recommended dosage, as some vitamins (like A) can be toxic to the fetus in high amounts during pregnancy.
—MELISSA NIEVES, LND, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Summary
Supplements available vary greatly in nutrient content and doses. Discuss supplementation with your healthcare provider to determine what is best for you.
20 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Folate.Food and Drug Administration.CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.Bibbins-Domingo K, Grossman DC, Curry SJ, et al.Folic acid supplementation for the prevention of neural tube defects: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. 2017;317(2):183-189. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.19438National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Iron-deficiency anemia.Oh C, Keats EC, Bhutta ZA.Vitamin and mineral supplementation during pregnancy on maternal, birth, child health and development outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutrients. 2020;12(2):491. Published 2020 Feb 14. doi:10.3390/nu12020491MedlinePlus.Iron deficiency anemia.Finkelstein JL, Cuthbert A, Weeks J, et al.Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024;8(8):CD004736. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004736.pub6Peña-Rosas JP, De-Regil LM, Dowswell T, Viteri FE.Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;12:CD004736. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004736.pub4Anemia in Pregnancy: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 233.Obstet Gynecol. 2021;138(2):e55-e64. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004477Keats EC, Haider BA, Tam E, Bhutta ZA.Multiple-micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;3(3):CD004905. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004905.pub6Hofmeyr GJ, Lawrie TA, Atallah ÁN, Torloni MR.Calcium supplementation during pregnancy for preventing hypertensive disorders and related problems.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;10(10):CD001059. Published 2018 Oct 1. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001059.pub5National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Calcium.Jouanne M, Oddoux S, Noël A, Voisin-Chiret AS.Nutrient requirements during pregnancy and lactation.Nutrients. 2021;13(2):692. doi: 10.3390/nu13020692Planned Parenthood.What are prenatal vitamins?National Institutes of Health.Iron.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Nutrition during pregnancy.Sauder KA, Couzens GL, Bailey RL, et al.Selecting a dietary supplement with appropriate dosing for 6 key nutrients in pregnancy.Am J Clin Nutr. 2023;117(4):823-829. doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2022.12.018Cai F, Young BK, Mccoy JA.Commercially available prenatal vitamins do not meet American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists nutritional guidelines.Am J Perinatol. 2024;41(S 01):e2547-e2554. doi:10.1055/a-2125-1148National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 Fatty Acids.National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Choline.
20 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Folate.Food and Drug Administration.CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.Bibbins-Domingo K, Grossman DC, Curry SJ, et al.Folic acid supplementation for the prevention of neural tube defects: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. 2017;317(2):183-189. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.19438National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Iron-deficiency anemia.Oh C, Keats EC, Bhutta ZA.Vitamin and mineral supplementation during pregnancy on maternal, birth, child health and development outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutrients. 2020;12(2):491. Published 2020 Feb 14. doi:10.3390/nu12020491MedlinePlus.Iron deficiency anemia.Finkelstein JL, Cuthbert A, Weeks J, et al.Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024;8(8):CD004736. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004736.pub6Peña-Rosas JP, De-Regil LM, Dowswell T, Viteri FE.Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;12:CD004736. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004736.pub4Anemia in Pregnancy: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 233.Obstet Gynecol. 2021;138(2):e55-e64. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004477Keats EC, Haider BA, Tam E, Bhutta ZA.Multiple-micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;3(3):CD004905. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004905.pub6Hofmeyr GJ, Lawrie TA, Atallah ÁN, Torloni MR.Calcium supplementation during pregnancy for preventing hypertensive disorders and related problems.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;10(10):CD001059. Published 2018 Oct 1. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001059.pub5National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Calcium.Jouanne M, Oddoux S, Noël A, Voisin-Chiret AS.Nutrient requirements during pregnancy and lactation.Nutrients. 2021;13(2):692. doi: 10.3390/nu13020692Planned Parenthood.What are prenatal vitamins?National Institutes of Health.Iron.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Nutrition during pregnancy.Sauder KA, Couzens GL, Bailey RL, et al.Selecting a dietary supplement with appropriate dosing for 6 key nutrients in pregnancy.Am J Clin Nutr. 2023;117(4):823-829. doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2022.12.018Cai F, Young BK, Mccoy JA.Commercially available prenatal vitamins do not meet American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists nutritional guidelines.Am J Perinatol. 2024;41(S 01):e2547-e2554. doi:10.1055/a-2125-1148National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 Fatty Acids.National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Choline.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Folate.Food and Drug Administration.CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.Bibbins-Domingo K, Grossman DC, Curry SJ, et al.Folic acid supplementation for the prevention of neural tube defects: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. 2017;317(2):183-189. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.19438National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Iron-deficiency anemia.Oh C, Keats EC, Bhutta ZA.Vitamin and mineral supplementation during pregnancy on maternal, birth, child health and development outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutrients. 2020;12(2):491. Published 2020 Feb 14. doi:10.3390/nu12020491MedlinePlus.Iron deficiency anemia.Finkelstein JL, Cuthbert A, Weeks J, et al.Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024;8(8):CD004736. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004736.pub6Peña-Rosas JP, De-Regil LM, Dowswell T, Viteri FE.Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;12:CD004736. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004736.pub4Anemia in Pregnancy: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 233.Obstet Gynecol. 2021;138(2):e55-e64. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004477Keats EC, Haider BA, Tam E, Bhutta ZA.Multiple-micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;3(3):CD004905. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004905.pub6Hofmeyr GJ, Lawrie TA, Atallah ÁN, Torloni MR.Calcium supplementation during pregnancy for preventing hypertensive disorders and related problems.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;10(10):CD001059. Published 2018 Oct 1. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001059.pub5National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Calcium.Jouanne M, Oddoux S, Noël A, Voisin-Chiret AS.Nutrient requirements during pregnancy and lactation.Nutrients. 2021;13(2):692. doi: 10.3390/nu13020692Planned Parenthood.What are prenatal vitamins?National Institutes of Health.Iron.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Nutrition during pregnancy.Sauder KA, Couzens GL, Bailey RL, et al.Selecting a dietary supplement with appropriate dosing for 6 key nutrients in pregnancy.Am J Clin Nutr. 2023;117(4):823-829. doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2022.12.018Cai F, Young BK, Mccoy JA.Commercially available prenatal vitamins do not meet American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists nutritional guidelines.Am J Perinatol. 2024;41(S 01):e2547-e2554. doi:10.1055/a-2125-1148National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 Fatty Acids.National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Choline.
National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Folate.
Food and Drug Administration.CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21.
Bibbins-Domingo K, Grossman DC, Curry SJ, et al.Folic acid supplementation for the prevention of neural tube defects: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. 2017;317(2):183-189. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.19438
National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Iron-deficiency anemia.
Oh C, Keats EC, Bhutta ZA.Vitamin and mineral supplementation during pregnancy on maternal, birth, child health and development outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutrients. 2020;12(2):491. Published 2020 Feb 14. doi:10.3390/nu12020491
MedlinePlus.Iron deficiency anemia.
Finkelstein JL, Cuthbert A, Weeks J, et al.Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024;8(8):CD004736. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004736.pub6
Peña-Rosas JP, De-Regil LM, Dowswell T, Viteri FE.Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;12:CD004736. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004736.pub4
Anemia in Pregnancy: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 233.Obstet Gynecol. 2021;138(2):e55-e64. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004477
Keats EC, Haider BA, Tam E, Bhutta ZA.Multiple-micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;3(3):CD004905. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004905.pub6
Hofmeyr GJ, Lawrie TA, Atallah ÁN, Torloni MR.Calcium supplementation during pregnancy for preventing hypertensive disorders and related problems.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;10(10):CD001059. Published 2018 Oct 1. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001059.pub5
National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Calcium.
Jouanne M, Oddoux S, Noël A, Voisin-Chiret AS.Nutrient requirements during pregnancy and lactation.Nutrients. 2021;13(2):692. doi: 10.3390/nu13020692
Planned Parenthood.What are prenatal vitamins?
National Institutes of Health.Iron.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Nutrition during pregnancy.
Sauder KA, Couzens GL, Bailey RL, et al.Selecting a dietary supplement with appropriate dosing for 6 key nutrients in pregnancy.Am J Clin Nutr. 2023;117(4):823-829. doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2022.12.018
Cai F, Young BK, Mccoy JA.Commercially available prenatal vitamins do not meet American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists nutritional guidelines.Am J Perinatol. 2024;41(S 01):e2547-e2554. doi:10.1055/a-2125-1148
National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Choline.
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