Even if you eat a healthy diet during pregnancy, it
is hard to get enough of some key nutrients from
food alone. Doctors recommend a prenatal vitamin
to make sure you get enough nutrients every day.
WHEN SHOULD I START TAKING A
PRENATAL VITAMIN?
The best time to start taking vitamins is
before pregnancy! If you are not taking a
prenatal vitamin, start right away.
WHICH PRENATAL VITAMIN SHOULD I USE?
Your prenatal vitamin should contain these three
important nutrients:
Iron – 27 mg
Iodine – 150 mcg
Folic Acid – 400 mcg or more
A prenatal vitamin with these nutrients will likely
contain adequate amounts of other nutrients.
WHY ARE THESE THREE NUTRIENTS
SO IMPORTANT?
Iron: Your body will make lots of extra blood to
support the pregnancy. It takes iron to make blood.
Because of the increase in blood, many pregnant
women become low in iron or “anemic”. Pregnant
women low in iron are at greater risk of having a
baby too early and too small. What can you do?
Check your prenatal vitamin. Does it have at
least 27 mg of iron? Gummy vitamins do not
contain iron.
If your doctor prescribes extra iron, take it
with water or juice rather than milk. Drink
plenty of fluids and include more fiber in
your diet.
P R E N ATA L
VITAMI N S
Revised 07/24/ 1 8
HOW CAN I PAY FOR MY
PRENATAL VITAMIN?
Ask your health care provider for a prescription.
Medical Assistance will cover your
prenatal vitamin.
If you have private health insurance, ask the
insurance company’s Member Services if your
plan covers the prescribed prenatal vitamin.
If you need to purchase a prenatal vitamin,
ask your pharmacist to recommend a low cost
prenatal vitamin with iron.
I HAVE NAUSEA. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY
TO TAKE MY PRENATAL VITAMIN?
Here are some ideas:
Try taking the prenatal vitamin at a different
time of day.
Take the vitamin with food.
Take half the vitamin in the morning and other
half later in the day.
Chew gum or suck on hard candy after taking
your prenatal vitamin.
If you are still getting sick, do not stop taking
vitamins! Ask your health care provider if you
could take one standard multivitamin with iron
or one children’s chewable multivitamin with
iron. Once you are feeling better, take your
prenatal vitamin again.
If these ideas do not work for you, ask your health
care provider for other options.
Iodine: Iodine is important for the development of
your baby’s brain and nervous system.
Folic Acid: You can lower your chance of having
a baby with birth defects of the brain or spine
by having enough folic acid in your body before
pregnancy and in early pregnancy.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
