Prenatal vitamins are the new sensation for expecting mothers. Future moms who are aware of their baby’s health happens to be the target consumer of this product. It has already created a striking hype among the people for its so-called “health benefits”. So the real question is how beneficial this product is to improve the health of its recipients. In this article, we are going to find out the details of prenatal vitamins with its clinical aspects. So let’s dig into it.

What Are Prenatal Vitamins?

Prenatal vitamins are basically medicine for both the expecting mother and the baby. These vitamins aim for providing better health during the pregnancy period. It is actually a combined supplement consisting of several vitamins & minerals. So it provides an extra source of nutrients in the mother’s diet. Hence it covers any nutritional gap for the mother. It helps to prevent vitamin & mineral deficiency and its associated diseases during pregnancy. Although, prenatal vitamins are actually made for not only the pregnant mothers. It is also for women who are trying to be pregnant.

Prenatal Vitamins Ingredients

As previously said, prenatal vitamins consist of some essential nutrients which are important for a safe pregnancy period. Pregnant mothers require a higher nutrition supply than normal women. They need an additional supply of not only daily foods but also these macro & micronutrients. Hence pregnant mothers tend to suffer from common nutritional deficiencies and their associated clinical conditions. So the Prenatal Vitamins contain these essential nutrients to avoid any condition that may impair the normal growth of the fetus. Here's a list of the essential nutrients this medicine contains:

• Folic Acid
• Iron 
• Calcium
• Vitamin D
• Iodine
• Zinc
• Vitamin A, C & E

The amount of these ingredients may vary depending on the companies. Different companies may provide different amounts of the same ingredient in their products. So it is wise to check on the nutritional value on the container or consult your doctor.

Prenatal Vitamins Benefits

Prenatal vitamins are indeed beneficial for women who are pregnant or aspiring to be pregnant. The ingredients in this medicine cover any micronutrient deficiency followed by associated clinical conditions. Besides any deficiency or clinical condition may result in impairment of fetus growth and higher risks of fetal death. So it is indeed essential for mothers to fulfill the daily nutrient requirements to ensure a healthy pregnancy & safe delivery. 

For example- Folate deficiency during pregnancy may result in anemia in mothers & neural tube defects in the fetus. It may result in several conditions like spina bifida, abnormal CNS development causing spinal cord & brain malfunctions leading to fetal death. Prenatal vitamins contain an enriched dose of folic acid which takes down the risk of folate deficiency & its associated clinical conditions. Just like that, the other ingredients contribute to minimizing their deficiency conditions. Thus, this medicine helps in a safe & healthy pregnancy.

When To Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins?

There is no absolute rule of when to start taking prenatal vitamins. You can start the course at any time of your pregnancy. But we suggest starting taking this medicine one month prior to gestation. Although it is also fine if you start the course once you are pregnant. 
We highly recommend consulting your physician before starting the course. Because some of its ingredients may cause serious harm to your body. Like an extra intake of calcium may cause hypercalcemia, which can be fatal for both you & your baby. So be careful & ask your physician before starting the course.

Prenatal Vitamin Side Effects: Are They Harmful?

Prenatal vitamins may initiate some serious side effects or discomfort to your body. Some of the ingredients in this medicine may help to develop clinical conditions. For example- the iron in the prenatal vitamins may cause constipation, dark stool & nausea. Besides, some women have complained to have cramps, stomach upset, diarrhea or even anorexia. Also, excess intake of some micronutrients may develop some clinical conditions which may be harmful to you. So we again recommend consulting your physician for more possible side effects according to your clinical history. 

Do Prenatal Vitamins Make You Gain Weight?

We have found no medical reference for prenatal vitamins causing weight gain. Some recipients have complained of gaining weight after regular intake, but there is no clinical base of that. Prenatal vitamins have no additional calorie or none of the ingredients are found responsible for weight gain. So, you can safely take this medicine during pregnancy as well as before pregnancy.

Prenatal Vitamins Make Me Sick: Should I Stop It?

As previously said, prenatal vitamins may produce some side effects. So if you suffer from these discomforts, you may stop taking it. Consult your physician for a better alternative of prenatal vitamins which will suit you well. 

Overall, prenatal vitamins are an excellent source of fulfilling your nutrient requirements. So, you should start taking prenatal vitamins for a better gestational period & delivery & ensure your baby to be perfectly healthy.