How long should I be taking prenatal vitamins for?

annabanana2280 · September 2011

I can't believe I can't find the answer to this question online! Anyway...

Husband and I will be TTCing in January.

When should I start taking prenatal vitamins? Now? 6 months ago? When I get pregnant?

Thanks ladies!

ATXBarber · September 2011

Now.

annabanana2280 · September 2011

ATXBarber:
Now.

What if we decide in January to instead start trying in the summer? Should I take them a year in advance? 6 months in advance?

Thanks

DemoDoll · September 2011

ATXBarber:
Now.

Agree with PP. It's good to take them at least 3 months before getting pregnant. For you, that would be now.

DemoDoll · September 2011

annabanana2280:
ATXBarber:
Now.
What if we decide in January to instead start trying in the summer? Should I take them a year in advance? 6 months in advance?
Thanks

Do you take a regular multivitamin right now? If not, start taking prenatals. They can serve as your multivitamin. If you start taking them now and in January, you decide to hold off the TTC, the vitamins aren't going to hurt you. Most people don't get the amount of nutrients they need through food so taking a vitamin is always a good choice.

ATXBarber · September 2011

DemoDoll:
annabanana2280:

ATXBarber:
Now.

What if we decide in January to instead start trying in the summer? Should I take them a year in advance? 6 months in advance?

Thanks

Do you take a regular multivitamin right now? If not, start taking prenatals. They can serve as your multivitamin. If you start taking them now and in January, you decide to hold off the TTC, the vitamins aren't going to hurt you. Most people don't get the amount of nutrients they need through food so taking a vitamin is always a good choice.

All of this. But DON'T take prenatals PLUS a multi bc you could OD on some of the vitamins. Just buy prenatals and take the recommended dose. GL!

annabanana2280 · September 2011

Thank you everyone!

DemoDoll · September 2011

ATXBarber:
DemoDoll:
annabanana2280:

ATXBarber:
Now.

What if we decide in January to instead start trying in the summer? Should I take them a year in advance? 6 months in advance?

Thanks

Do you take a regular multivitamin right now? If not, start taking prenatals. They can serve as your multivitamin. If you start taking them now and in January, you decide to hold off the TTC, the vitamins aren't going to hurt you. Most people don't get the amount of nutrients they need through food so taking a vitamin is always a good choice.

All of this. But DON'T take prenatals PLUS a multi bc you could OD on some of the vitamins. Just buy prenatals and take the recommended dose. GL!

Great point, I should have mentioned that!

Excitedtostart · September 2011

My OB writes a rx for prenatals when she writes a rx for birth control. Unless you have a medical condition that prohibits you from taking them, there's no reason that you can't take them for years. There's a push to get all women of child baring age to take them.

starsinger17 · September 2011

My doctor told me to start taking them and all I said to her was that I was okay with getting pregnant before my husband and I decided to officially start trying. She said she would suggest prenatals but they are high in iron so she suggested one a day womens.

blindvictory · September 2011

starsinger17:
My doctor told me to start taking them and all I said to her was that I was okay with getting pregnant before my husband and I decided to officially start trying. She said she would suggest prenatals but they are high in iron so she suggested one a day womens.

I take gummy prenatals, which don't have iron. If you're worried about getting too much iron, I'd say do those. They've got the folic acid and DHA, and they're delicious.

kg_08 · September 2011

Might as well start now. I didn't start until I found out I was pregnant with DD... this time I started taking them about a month before TTC.

rayofsunshine99 · September 2011

Mine have iron in them too, so I don't feel confident taking them every day right now. I think I will go get some iron-less ones or a women's OAD until I get a BFP.

triagain2 · September 2011

Since no one has said it, i will add, the neural tube of the fetus closes at approximately 6 weeks gestational age. That being said, you need prenatals, (specifically folic acid =400mcg) before the 6 week mark to help prevent neural tube defects (i.e. spina bifida, anencephaly, etc). This is why its a good idea for any woman of child bearing age to take prenatals even when on birth control. A large percentage of pregnancies are unplanned (and those people are not POAS addicts like me ).

The reason you should take a prenatal vitamin (and not just folic acid), and this is strictly just in my opinion is because it was not that long ago that we didn't know the folic acid/neural tube defect link. Therefore, there may be many other nutrient/defect links we are not aware of.

jackersCU · September 2011

This is all really good to know. Thanks ladies!

DALFSU06 · September 2011

I have been taking Vitafusion Prenatal gummies since I have been off BC.(Feb2011)I get these from Target, they are pretty yummy! I just started TTC 2 months ago. I have read lots of places you should start taking them 3 months before TTC. Now would be a good time!

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