There are many factors that contribute to a healthy preconception period and pregnancy, such as proper nutrition, adequate water intake, regular physical activity, and stress management. A prenatal vitamin may also be added into this regimen.
Prenatal vitamins are crafted for pregnant women to ensure their daily nutrient needs/requirements are being met, although many prenatal vitamins do not include ALL the necessary nutrients. A prenatal vitamin is typically taken when a woman finds out she is pregnant, however, there are benefits to taking a prenatal vitamin prior to pregnancy – even more than 6-months prior to trying to conceive.
Why Should you Take a Prenatal Vitamin Prior to Pregnancy?
Here are the top 2 benefits of a prenatal vitamin prior to pregnancy:
- Fill in nutritional gaps – If you have some nutritional deficiencies, taking a prenatal vitamin can help fill in some of those gaps. As a nutritionist, I always choose food first, but sometimes supplements are helpful to treat specific deficiencies. While pregnant, your baby gets all the nutrients directly from you, so it may lead to deficiencies in important vitamins and minerals. Therefore, making sure your body has what it needs to nourish you AND baby before pregnancy can help avoid nutritional deficiencies later on. Research shows that prenatal vitamins help with reducing the risk of pregnancy complications like neural tube defects (folate) and anemia (iron).
- Development of healthy eggs – Your eggs develop 90 days before they are released from the ovaries, therefore you need to meet your nutrient needs far before getting pregnant. In addition, balanced hormones are key for egg health and conception, so proper nutrition along with a prenatal vitamin can help regulate your hormones, leading to development of healthy eggs.
Choosing a high-quality professional grade supplement is highly recommended. Talk to your nutritionist, primary care physician, or OB/GYN/midwife to see if a supplement like a prenatal vitamin is right for you.