During pregnancy, you’ll need additional nutrients to help your baby grow and develop. In fact certain vitamins, like folic acid, can help prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord when taken before and very early in pregnancy. For this reason, the March of Dimes recommends that all women of childbearing age take a multivitamin that contains at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day.
Step 1
Choose a prenatal vitamin. Select a multivitamin that contains as close to 100 percent of the daily value for vitamins and minerals as possible. The daily value is the amount of each vitamin and mineral you should consume every day. The DV percentages for the vitamin will be listed on the label.
Step 2
Store your vitamin in a cool and dry place. Storing your vitamin in a warm or damp place can compromise its potency.
Step 3
Take your multivitamin at the same time each day. Taking your multivitamin at the same time each day will help you develop a habit of taking it. Consider taking your multivitamin with a meal if it causes stomach irritation.
Warnings
- Taking a multivitamin with more than 100 percent DV of certain vitamins or minerals can be toxic to a developing baby. Talk to your provider before taking a multivitamin that contains more than 100 percent DV.
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