Prenatal vitamins are multivitamin and mineral supplements, specifically designed to meet the nutritional needs of women who are pregnant, nursing, or trying to become pregnant. Some medical professionals recommend women of childbearing age take them regularly, pregnant or not, as a precautionary measure. Prenatal vitamins are intended to improve maternal nutrition, as well as prevent abnormalities caused by nutritional deficiencies during gestation.
It’s important to note that prenatal vitamins aren’t intended to replace a healthy eating regimen, so continue eating a balanced diet along with taking prenatal vitamins. Here’s a look at why pregnant women need prenatal vitamins and how to tell if you’re allergic to them.
What are prenatal vitamins made from?
Prenatal vitamins typically contain, among other things, folic acid, calcium, and iron -- some of the most essential nutrients to fetal health. Folic acid and iron tend to be especially lacking in most pregnant women’s diets. Many prenatals come with an additional gel capsule with DHA/EPA to provide plenty of fatty acids. So, what are all those things? And why does your baby need so much of them?
- Folic Acid: Helps prevent birth defects, particularly neural tube defects (i.e. spina bifida).
- Iron: Helps prevent preterm labor and low birth weight; important to maternal blood -- too little iron can cause anemia, which may cause complications.
- Calcium: Essential for development of healthy bones, of course, but also a well-functioning heart, and nervous system.
- Vitamin D: Helps manage calcium levels.
- DHA: Important to brain and eye development in your baby.
What should you look out for when choosing a prenatal vitamin?
Many women safely take prenatal vitamins. However, there’s no guarantee that the Food and Drug Administration regulates all prenatal vitamins. It’s important for all pregnant women to learn about the side effects prenatal vitamins can cause, and refrain from taking any supplement or vitamin before discussing it with their doctor.
What are some common prenatal vitamin allergies?
Some of the biggest problems that can arise from taking prenatal vitamins are allergies. Although many prenatal vitamin packs include an additional fish oil pill, others include fish oil in the vitamin itself. As a result, women who have an allergy to fish won’t be able to take them. Prenatal vitamins may include other causes for allergies, such as fillers and additives that cause adverse reactions. Make sure to read the ingredients, both active and inactive, in any prenatal vitamin you’re considering to see if you’re allergic to any of them. If you’re unsure, talk to your pharmacist or physician before taking anything.
Signs and symptoms of a prenatal vitamin allergy?
There are several signs and symptoms that can be indicative of a reaction to an allergen in prenatal vitamins. Like most allergies, this reaction might include itchy, inflamed, or red skin, hives, difficulty breathing, nausea, or swelling, especially of the face or throat. If you find that you’re experiencing these symptoms soon after taking prenatal vitamins, it’s important to seek medical care immediately. If you think you may be allergic to your prenatal vitamins, tell your obstetrician or midwife. They might be able to prescribe prenatal vitamins for you that don’t cause allergies.
