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Can you take prenatal vitamins if you are not pregnant?

Joe Ford

Can you take prenatal vitamins if you are not pregnant?

You may be tempted to take prenatal vitamins because of unproven claims that they promote thicker hair and stronger nails. However, if you’re not pregnant and not planning to become pregnant, high levels of certain nutrients over a long period of time may actually be more harmful than helpful.

What prenatal vitamins are best?

Here’s what you should be on the lookout for.

  • Buy it: MegaFood Baby & Me Pre & Post Natal Dietary Supplement, $35, Amazon.com.
  • Buy it: One a Day Women’s Prenatal 1 with Folic Acid, DHA & Iron Multivitamin/Multimineral Supplement, $15, Amazon.com.
  • Buy it: Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA Dietary Supplement, $25, Amazon.com.

What is prenatal vitamins good for?

Why are prenatal vitamins important?

  • Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects. These defects are serious abnormalities of the fetal brain and spinal cord.
  • Iron supports the development of the placenta and fetus. Iron helps your body make blood to supply oxygen to the fetus.

What are the benefits of prenatal vitamins?

Prenatal vitamins give you extra amounts of these three key nutrients for pregnant women:

  • Folic acid helps your baby’s brain and spinal cord develop correctly.
  • Calcium protects your bones as your baby grows.
  • Iron helps your blood deliver oxygen to your baby.

What kind of prenatal vitamins should I take to get pregnant?

Doctors used to tell women to take folic acid as soon as they got pregnant. 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.

Can I buy prenatal vitamins over the counter?

How Do I Choose Prenatal Vitamins? Prenatal vitamins are readily available over the counter and a prescription is generally unnecessary. (Note: check with your insurance to see if they cover prenatal vitamins. If so, you’ll likely need your doctor to give you a prescription for them.)

How much are prenatal vitamins at CVS?

CVS Health Prenatal Gummy Vitamins with DHA & Folic Acid Gummies. 11.9913.3¢ / ea.

How much are Prenatals?

The cost for Prenatal Plus oral tablet (Prenatal Multivitamins with Folic Acid 1 mg) is around $15 for a supply of 100 tablets, depending on the pharmacy you visit….Oral Tablet.

Quantity Per unit Price
100 $0.15 – $0.43 $14.96 – $43.11
500 $0.23 – $0.36 $115.04 – $181.29

Is DHA necessary in prenatal vitamins?

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a kind of fat (called omega-3 fatty acid) that helps with growth and development. During pregnancy, you need DHA to help your baby’s brain and eyes develop. Not all prenatal vitamins contain DHA, so ask your provider if you need to take a DHA supplement.