When is it late to start taking prenatal vitamins?
Most doctors don’t prescribe prenatal vitamins anymore as so many kinds are available over the counter. Many moms have to try several kinds before they find one they like. Sometimes, certain kinds seem to give you gas, make your nausea worse etc. You can always ask your doctor what kind they recommend. On another note, I know many doctors aren’t even advising their patients to take prenatals anymore if they follow a good enough diet. As long as you were taking folic acid before pregnancy and continue to do so, a good diet is often enough. Always check with your doctor first, to make sure that you don’t have any deficiencies that make taking prenatals necessary.
You don’t have to have a prescription, any drugstore carries a variety of brands. They say to start immediately, heck, if you are trying to get pregnant, they recommend starting them before you even are pregnant. The reason is that there is so much forming and developing right away, you need to make sure you’re getting enough folic acid and all the other nutrients. I’ve always started them the day I get that plus sign, and my first baby was fine and this baby is due soon and he’s fine according to all scans and tests. I’d recommend starting them today though, just to be safe and also to make sure your baby is getting all the nutrients he or she needs.
