how long do you need to be on prenatal vitamins before getting pregnant?
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But according to the Mayo Clinic, neural tube defects can start forming during week six. This is why both experts say it's ideal for prenatal vitamins to be consistently taken before pregnancy. “It's best to start taking prenatal vitamins at least one to two months before beginning to try to conceive,” says Earthman.
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Start taking 4,000 mcg 3 months before you get pregnant through 12 weeks of pregnancy. Ask your provider how to safely get this much folic acid. It's not safe to take several multivitamins or prenatal vitamins because you can get too much of other nutrients, which may be harmful to your health.
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Taking a prenatal vitamin is perfectly healthy for someone not looking to conceive. While it won't support fertility, it will replenish folic acid, iron, vitamin D, and calcium stores in the body. This can help keep you strong and prevent potential health complications in an unexpected pregnancy.
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You can safely take prenatal vitamins with birth control in the short-term to prepare your body for pregnancy before you start trying for a baby. The vitamins and birth control won't interact and will be just as effective as if you were taking each medication separately.
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Folic acid (vitamin B9) is very important for a baby's health and development. You don't need to take folic acid after 12 weeks of pregnancy.
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The ideal time to start a prenatal supplement is actually 3 months prior to conception. Here's why you should start taking prenatals before pregnancy: Your eggs develop 90 days before they are released, and healthy eggs are key to a healthy pregnancy.
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Now, experts suggest starting a prenatal vitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid before you try to have a baby. This important nutrient prevents spinal defects in growing babies. See if your prenatal vitamin has DHA. This type of omega-3 fatty acid can help the health of your baby once you get pregnant.
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Folic acid before and during pregnancy You should take a 400 micrograms folic acid tablet every day before you're pregnant and until you're 12 weeks pregnant. Folic acid can help prevent birth defects known as neural tube defects, including spina bifida.
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The takeaway. If you're thinking seriously about becoming pregnant in the next few months, starting a prenatal vitamin should be at the top of your preconception to-do list. If you're already pregnant, begin taking one ASAP. It will help your baby grow strong and healthy (and help you stay strong and healthy, too!).
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Our rule of thumb: You should consider taking prenatal vitamins when you're thinking, trying, and when it's time—or in general, aim for 3 months ahead of conception. But let's dive in a little deeper, shall we?
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How much you should take. It's recommended that all women who could get pregnant should take a daily supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid before they're pregnant and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, when the baby's spine is developing.
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When to start taking prenatal vitamins Because so much of a baby's development happens during the early weeks of pregnancy, it's important to start taking [prenatal vitamins](https://ritual.com/products/essential-prenatal-multivitamin) before you start trying to get pregnant (__three months is a good rule of thumb__).
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Should I stop trying to conceive? Ideally, you should take folic acid supplements for two to three months before you conceive and until you are 12 weeks pregnant. But try not to worry if you haven't started taking the supplements yet and start taking it now.
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Whether or not you're pregnant, you should talk to your doctor before adding any prenatals or other supplements to your health routine. If there's any chance you could get pregnant soon, yes, experts do suggest taking some form of folic acid. If not, it's really up to you.
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All pregnant women should take at least 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily. Many pre-natal vitamins contain 600 mcg of folic acid. Taking folic acid after you discover you're pregnant may not be soon enough. Many women don't realize they're pregnant until six weeks or more after conception.
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You usually take folic acid once a day, but sometimes you only need to take it once a week. Most adults and children can take folic acid. If you're pregnant or trying for a baby, it's recommended you take folic acid until you're 12 weeks pregnant. It helps your baby grow normally.
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During pregnancy, take a prenatal vitamin each day that has 600 micrograms of folic acid in it. Folic acid only works to prevent NTDs before and during the first few weeks of pregnancy. Later in pregnancy, you need 600 mcg of folic acid each day to help your baby grow and develop.