What To Know About Prenatal Vitamins

We recommend taking a prenatal vitamin, ideally starting before pregnancy, and continuing to take it while pregnant.

Prenatal vitamins contain all of the recommended daily vitamins and minerals you will need before and during your pregnancy, including folic acid and iron, calcium, vitamin D, choline, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and vitamin C.  

Here are more details on two of the most important vitamins for pregnancy: folic acid and iron.

Folic Acid

Folic acid, also known as folate, is a B vitamin that is important for pregnant women. Folic acid may help prevent major birth defects of the fetus’s brain and spine called neural tube defects (NTDs).

When you are pregnant you need 600 micrograms of folic acid each day. Because it’s hard to get this much folic acid from food alone, you should take a daily prenatal vitamin with at least 400 micrograms starting at least 1 month before pregnancy and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Some women, such as those who have had a previous child with an NTD, should take 4 milligrams (mg) of folic acid each day—10 times the usual amount—as a separate supplement at least 3 months before pregnancy and for the first 3 months of pregnancy. You and your ob-gyn or another obstetric care provider can discuss whether you need this amount of folic acid based on your health history. 

Iron

Iron is used by your body to make the extra blood that you and your fetus need during pregnancy. Women who are not pregnant need 18 mg of iron per day. Pregnant women need more, 27 mg per day. This increased amount is found in most prenatal vitamins.

In addition to taking a prenatal vitamin with iron, you should eat iron-rich foods such as beans, lentils, enriched breakfast cereals, beef, turkey, liver, and shrimp. You should also eat foods that help your body absorb iron, including oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, broccoli, and peppers.

Your blood should be tested during pregnancy to check for anemia. If you have anemia, your ob-gyn may recommend extra iron supplements.

Other Vitamins

Beyond checking for folic acid and iron, look for a prenatal vitamin that contains calcium and vitamin D. They help promote the development of the baby's teeth and bones. It also might be beneficial to look for a prenatal vitamin that contains vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, B vitamins, zinc and iodine. See ACOG's detailed guidelines here.