Tuesday, March 19, 2024
HomePrenatalWill Taking Prenatal Vitamins Help Me Get Pregnant

Will Taking Prenatal Vitamins Help Me Get Pregnant

We Don’t Know If Those Same Micronutrients Can Have An Impact On Conception

Re: Can prenatal vitamins help if I am trying to get pregnant?

Despite all we know about how micronutrients may affect reproductive function on a cellular level, theres a surprising gap of research on how micronutrients may affect chances of conception in humans in the real world and, to our knowledge, there havent been any clinical trials run by prenatal manufacturers on whether prenatals are associated with higher pregnancy rates or shorter time to pregnancy. In terms of pregnancy loss? Studies found no association between prenatal vitamins and lowered miscarriage rates.

There have been some studies looking at whether taking multivitamins or specific micronutrients may impact chances of conception, but were still far from being able to say that any specific vitamin formulation or individual micronutrient actually boosts chances of conception. Until large-scale randomized controlled trials systematically compare pregnancy rates or time to conception in people who do and do not use micronutrient supplements, the jurys out on whether they have an effect.

Scientists at the Center for Science in the Public Interest dug for evidence of effectiveness for 39 different womens fertility supplements . A minority of companies referenced scientific studies, but not a single referenced study found positive effects on ovulation, time to pregnancy, or pregnancy outcomes in women.Our suggestion? Approach any supplements that make these sorts of claims with a critical eye.

Disadvantages Of Taking Prenatal Vitamins When Not Pregnant

So what could be the bad part of taking prenatal vitamins if youre not pregnant or trying to conceive?Prenatal vitamins are specific are formulated to make up the common nutritional deficiencies you experience during pregnancy and breastfeeding. But they arent reallyyy intended for or optimized if youre not pregnant or breastfeedingFor example, taking too much folic acid each day can have the adverse side effect of masking a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Excess iron can be a problem and is associated with health problems like constipation, nausea, and diarrhea.Also, quality is an important consideration when selecting a prenatal vitamins because the FDA is not required to review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed to consumers. In 2015, the New York State Attorney Generals office investigated top-selling supplements at leading retailers like Target and Walgreens and found that four out of five of the products didnt contain the ingredients listed on the label.We recommended using Labdoor as a resource that offers you more insight into prenatal vitamin quality. After performing a chemical analysis of a supplement in an FDA-approved lab, Labdoor produces a quality score for the product. Also, we always recommend consulting your primary care provider when selecting a prenatal vitamin.

Supplements All Women Trying To Get Pregnant Should Take

A prenatal vitamin should be taken before you become pregnant, not just when you find out that you are having a baby. Along with prenatal vitamins, there are additional supplements that may improve your fertility health and help with conception. But it is best to start taking supplements a few months or more before conception, since it may take a few months to get their full benefits. There are so many supplements available. But to keep things simple, here are six that have the best chance of giving your fertility a boost and increase your chance of having a baby.

Co Enzyme Q 10:

Is the source of fuel for mitochondria and is needed for the basic functioning of cells. Our recommendation: If you are up to 37 years old take 200-400 mg and if you are over 37 years old take 400-600 mg.

Vitamin D3

Studies have shown that despite taking a prenatal vitamin, women were still low in Vitamin D. There is typically not enough Vitamin D added to a prenatal pill so it is important to check. Low Vitamin D levels in early life is linked to schizophrenia, diabetes and skeletal disease. Appropriate levels of Vitamin D intake can prevent or reduce depression, dementia, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. Our recommendation: Take 2,000-3,000 IU daily.

Folic Acid:
Selenium:

Preliminary studies have shown that this supplement may help prevent miscarriage. Selenium is an antioxidant and protects cells from damage. Our recommendation: Take 200 mg daily.

Vitamin E:
Herbs:

Read Also: Is Vitamin D Good For Rheumatoid Arthritis

Does It Matter When You Start To Take Prenatal Vitamins

ACOGs recommendation is to start a prenatal at least one month preconception. This is because nutritional needs start changing in very early pregnancy, soon after conception meaning its important to make sure youre giving yourself enough time for nutrients to build up to sufficient levels before you can confirm whether youre pregnant.

Here’s an example: We know that the neural tube closes within the first few weeks of pregnancy . Because a good chunk of neural tube development happens before someone can even know whether or not theyre pregnant, its crucial that people who are trying to conceive have sufficient amounts of the nutrients that keep this process running smoothly before they can confirm theyre pregnant.*

Highlighting the importance of folate for fetal development, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention actually recommend that all people with ovaries of childbearing age, regardless of whether theyre currently trying to conceive or pregnant, make sure theyre consuming adequate amounts of folate, either through balanced eating or supplementation .* Their logic here is that because almost half of pregnancies in the US are unplanned, making sure that people who could potentially get pregnant are getting sufficient amounts of folate at all times.

Are There Prenatal Supplements For Vegetarians Or Vegans

Help Me Get Pregnant Pills

Vegans and vegetarians often have gaps in their diet, due to a lack of meat or animal products. An example of this is vitamin B12 which is mainly found in animal products and iron is rich in meats. For this reason, they may benefit more from a broad prenatal plus individual vitamin tablets, such as iron tablets. Some prenatal supplements cater to vegans and vegetarians, with vegan sourced ingredients and tailored micronutrients.

Read Also: What Vitamins Are Good For Erection

Which Is Better Geritol Or Prenatal Vitamins

Youd be surprised to know that Geritol is not a prenatal vitamin technically. Prenatal vitamins have a lot of folic acids. They also have stool softener to prevent constipation due to iron intake.

Your OB will not ask you to take Geritol. Instead, you will get another iron-rich prenatal vitamin. The daily requirement of a pregnant woman or trying to get a pregnant woman is 400 micrograms.

Taking Geritol alone is not enough, tracking cervical mucus, cutting down smoking, caffeine and alcohol are equally important.

Prenatal Vitamins Vs Preconception Supplements

For decades, physicians have recommended women of childbearing age take a daily prenatal vitamin with folic acid to lower the risk of birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, called neural tube defects. Once conception occurs, most women then continue with the same prenatal vitamin through the duration of their pregnancy. While this approach to prenatal vitamins is not new, recent studies have shown that a womans nutrient needs prior to conception are different than during pregnancy. Further research has shown the impact of particular vitamin levels on the chances of success with fertility treatment. Certain supplementation may increase the chances of success.

You May Like: Is Vitamin D Bad For Kidneys

Best Prenatal Vitamins Before Pregnancy

Congratulations, you are thinking about getting pregnant! Pregnancy is one of the most exciting times of your life, and you may be wonder, do prenatal vitamins help you get pregnant? However, the short answer is no they help prevent pregnancy complications, such as low birth weight and premature birth. Ultimately helping you experience a healthy pregnancy and childbirth.

Prenatal multivitamins may not help your chances of getting pregnant, but they reduce your chances of birth defects. Their use significantly helps reduce the likelihood of neural tube defects, spina bifida and is associates with a lower risk of miscarriage. Think of them as an extra insurance policy with essential nutrients that help fill the nutritional gap of your daily food intake.

We recommend you add a prenatal multivitamin before getting pregnant. While doing this may not make you pregnant, it may help prepare your body to nourish your eggs and aid your uterus to be in optimal condition for implantation. Here are the benefits of taking prenatal vitamins before pregnancy.

Are Fertility Supplements Evidence

Can Prenatal Vitamins Help You Get Pregnant

An evidence-based practicewhether it be a medication, intervention or therapy, complementary treatment, or even the way a provider communicates about careis a practice thats been thoroughly examined via appropriate research and found to make a significant difference in patient outcomes. Evidence-based is the gold standard in healthcare. Are fertility supplements evidence-based? Overwhelmingly, no.

Fertility supplements, like all nutritional supplements, are not regulated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other regulating body. That means that no one is keeping track of whats in these supplements, let alone checking that they actually do what they claim to do. Unlike over-the-counter or prescription medications, fertility supplements are not required to prove their effectiveness via clinical trials .

In one review of 39 womens fertility supplements available on the market, researchers found that not a single manufacturer provided any reasonable scientific substantiation that its products help women become pregnant. To quote those researchers:

So, whats a savvy consumer and hopeful parent to do? Remember that, when it comes to fertility supplements, you and/or your doctor will need to do your own research into the evidence to support the use of particular ingredients. This guide is a great place to start.

Recommended Reading: Where Can I Buy Celebrate Vitamins

Important Vitamins And Minerals After Conceiving:

  • Calcium for your baby’s bones. If you are low on calcium, your baby will draw the calcium it needs from your bones.
  • Vitamin D is required to allow the body to absorb calcium.
  • Iodine is essential for healthy thyroid function. Iodine deficiency can cause many problems including mental health issues, miscarriage, stillbirth and growth abnormalities. However, due to the iodization of salt, the median intake of iodine for women in the USA is approximately 190 – 210 mg per day.19The Institute of Medicine recommends pregnant women get 220 mg per day. Half a teaspoon of iodized salt contains 190 mg.

Do You Need Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins are important before and during pregnancy to help your body meet the demands of pregnancy and aid in your babys development, says Dr. Nwankwo. Your balanced diet should be the foundation of your nutritional vitamins. Your body is able to absorb more from your diet than from supplements. However, your prenatal will help fill in the gaps.

A run-of-the-mill multivitamin wont cut it when youre pregnant. Prenatal vitamins are specially designed multivitamins that deliver the extra amounts of nutrients needed during various stages of your babys development. For example, they contain folic acid, which is important for babys brain development in the earliest stages. And many have vitamin D and calcium to build strong bones and teeth during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Plus, prenatal vitamins help make sure you have enough nutrients such as iron, to not only provide to your baby but so your own body doesnt become depleted.

Don’t Miss: What Has Zinc And Vitamin C

When Should You Start Taking Prenatal Supplements And Why

It’s recommended that you start at least three months before conception.

Why?

  • Helps ensure your body has all the required nutrients available prior to conception.
  • It takes over a year for an egg to develop, with most of the maturing occurring in the three months prior to ovulation, so it’s important that you get all the required nutrients during this development stage.
  • Your baby needs these nutrients to be available at the point of conception, not afterwards.
  • Improve fertility – Prenatal vitamins can actually improve fertility.
  • More on these points below.

    Unfortunately, many women trying to conceive are not aware of the importance of starting BEFORE seeing a positive pregnancy test. Ovulation Calculator asked 81,156 women who were actively trying to conceive if they were taking a prenatal vitamin, the result was alarming. 68% said “No”.

    We then asked the same women how long had they been trying to conceive. As you can see in the graph below, the results ranged from 74% for women “Just Starting”, to 62% for women that had been trying for “12 months or more”.

    These numbers may seem unbelievable, but it just goes to show we are not well informed when it comes to the importance of nutrition before conception.

    Does Taking Prenatal Vitamins Help You Get Pregnant

    How Do Taking Prenatal Vitamins Help You Get Pregnant ...

    Is it an illusion?

    No! It’s actually prenatal vitamins working wonders for your body. Doctors recommend that you take prenatal vitamins at least three months before attempting pregnancy.

    But does taking prenatal vitamin actually increase your chances of getting pregnant? Does it boost your fertility?

    First, we need to unravel the components that are inside prenatal vitamins that give them their so-called magical properties. You need your prenatal vitamins to have at least 400 micrograms of folic acid. This will help in restricting a very specific malformation on the developing baby, known as a Neural Tube Defect. Other than this, your prenatal vitamins also need to contain iron. Iron is vital for your body during pregnancy since the need for it within your body increases.

    Bone growth is important during pregnancy too! This is brought about by Vitamin D and Calcium, which directly contributes to the development of the framework of your babys body. On top of this, Omega-3 Fatty acids are going to help with the babys central nervous system. This is especially important because it will eventually come to determine a flourishing brain development of the baby.

    There are also other ways to improve your fertility, though.

    It is important to remember that YOU are at the center of it all. In combination with prenatal vitamins and other fertility enriching methods, you will be the one to reap the benefits and be rewarded with a healthy little baby!

    Also Check: What Vitamins Should I Be Taking For My Age

    Should You Take A Multivitamin Instead

    Since so many micronutrients may influence fertility, you may find it more convenient to take one high quality multivitamin, rather than purchase a boatload of individual supplements.

    I highly recommend a good, quality prenatal vitamin, says Low Dog. For women, she recommends looking for a product that contains:

    • 400 mcg folate at minimum
    • 300 mg choline at minimum
    • 150 mcg iodine
    • 18 mg iron
    • 600 IU vitamin D, at least

    For men, Low Dog recommends looking for a multivitamin with adequate antioxidants that provides roughly 200 percent of the daily value for:

    • vitamin C

    Great Prenatal Vitamins For Anyone Whos Pregnant Or Trying To Be

    All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

    When youre pregnant, there is a lot to think about. Your mind cartwheel from best prenatal vitamins to child-proof furniture to can I seriously not eat soft cheese anymore? As exciting as this time can be, it can also be stressful when you want to give your future child the best but you dont know what that is. Especially when it comes to that whole prenatal vitamins thing.

    Prenatal vitamins are supplements containing vitamins and minerals that help to support pregnant people by preventing common nutritional deficiencies that can arise during pregnancy. Most pregnant people use thema 2017 survey from the March of Dimes found that 97% of U.S. women between the ages of 18 and 45 who have been pregnant or who were pregnant at the time of the survey reported taking prenatal vitamins or multivitamins during their pregnancy. This is a good thing, as vitamins play a pretty important role in pregnancy health.

    Amber Samuel, M.D., a maternal fetal medicine specialist at HCA Gulf Coast Division Hospitals in Houston, tells SELF that prenatal vitamins can help promote fetal development and maternal health and decrease the risk of birth defects. But are all prenatal vitamins created equal? How do you know which is the best one for you? Read on to find out.

    Recommended Reading: What’s The Difference Between Vitamin D3 And Vitamin D

    What Are The Risks Of Taking Geritol

    There are rarely observed side effects like constipation, nausea, and vomiting. You can take Geritol after asking your doctor. Make sure you are not taking any other contraindicatory supplement. Taking two types of supplements will overdose your body. Geritol is safe for you unless you have diabetes. Sugar based syrup contents are not ideal for diabetic patients.

    Similarly, know about the alcohol content of the syrup. The alcohol is not like the glass of wine and will not intoxicate you. Instead, its for the preparation of the syrup. You can consider these ingredients of Geritol that may conflict with your interests.

    Prenatals: Doubling Pregnancy Rates In Women With Pcos

    can prenatal vitamins help you get pregnant

    What about women with known fertility issues? PCOS is a common disorder that affects about 1 in 10 women. It often goes undiagnosed until youre at that WTF, why am I not pregnant yet-visit at your doctors.

    Do prenatals work for women with PCOS as well? We saw that it benefited women with irregular cycles a lot, and as thats often one of the key signs of PCOS, it wouldnt be a big surprise to find out it helps PCOS ladies too.

    And thats exactly what a study from the United Kingdom found.4 Most of the enrolled women had subfertility due to ovulation issues, often because of PCOS. And because of the ovulation issues, the doctors had to induce ovulation using the popular ovulation-inducing-drug Clomid .

    After 3 months, women who took a prenatal got pregnant much faster and more often than women who only took folic acid ! So yes two thirds of these women got pregnant in just 3 months after being on Clomid and taking a prenatal, compared to just a little over 1 out of 3 who took *only* folic acid. While folic acid is one of the most important ingredient in your prenatal, its probably best to stick to actual prenatals rather than buying a supplement that only contains folic acid.

    Thats a pretty big difference! It goes to show that while there are meds your doctor prescribes that can help you ovulate, your body may still need a little extra help. And thats where these simple over the counter vitamins can come in handy.

    Don’t Miss: What Is Vitamin B1 Used For

    RELATED ARTICLES

    Most Popular