Can I Take Prenatal Vitamins If I’m Not Pregnant?

If you’re expecting, then you previously know the importance of using a prenatal vitamin it’s just about the very first issue the nurse will explain to you when you call to timetable your initial pregnancy appointment. If you are not expecting, there are causes you may possibly be thinking if you can consider prenatal natural vitamins when you are not expecting. Maybe you are hoping to get some of the shiny hair and solid nails common among pregnant gals (sorry to burst your bubble, but which is much more owing to hormones than it is vitamins) or probably you believe if it is protected for pregnancy, it’s protected for you also.

Listed here, we spoke to two OB/GYNs on what comes about if you just take prenatal nutritional vitamins when you are not pregnant.

Can I acquire prenatal nutritional vitamins if I’m not expecting?

Very first points initially, there is 1 pretty excellent rationale you would pick out to acquire prenatals when you’re not expecting, and that is if you’re hoping to turn out to be pregnant within just the up coming 3 or so months. “Prenatal vitamins are safe and sound to choose when not pregnant, and it is in truth ideal to start prenatals prior to pregnancy,” Monique Brotman, board-qualified OB/GYN, tells Romper.

Even so, if you are not pregnant, and you’re not breastfeeding or hoping to conceive, there is no serious motive why it would make perception to consider these nutritional supplements, though it is likely generally secure (barring some uncommon occasions).

Side outcomes of using prenatals whilst expecting

“Prenatal natural vitamins are particularly formulated for pregnant women of all ages, breastfeeding gals, or for gals who are attempting to conceive,” Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, FACOG, double board-licensed in OB/GYN and Maternal Fetal Medication tells Romper. She claims the 3 major nutrition a prenatal normally has is folic acid, calcium, and iron (some skip iron because it can be tough on the tummy).

“Women who usually are not in the higher than named classes [TTC, pregnant, nursing] should really consult with with their medical professionals as to irrespective of whether supplementation of these specific nutrients is essential, primarily based on fundamental comorbidities,” Gaither states. “As a general rule, except if you are not in the cohort so talked about, you should be acquiring all the needed vitamins and minerals from a healthy diet program. Higher stages of certain nutrition around a protracted time period of time might be additional hazardous than practical.” For illustration, and this is exceptional, but if you are not pregnant, obtaining too substantially folic acid could perhaps mask signals of a vitamin B12 deficiency.

If you are not feeding on a good deal, and imagining the prenatal will provide you with the vitamins you require, you’ll swiftly uncover oneself lacking is critical nutrition, as even prenatals have only a portion of the nutritional needs you have to have for every day. On the flipside, (and this is why it’s not suggested that expecting females just take two prenatals the next day if they unintentionally overlook to take it the day ahead of) using also quite a few could final result in tummy hassle, specifically for unwanted fat-soluble vitamins (A,D,E and K) which are found in prenatals.

Benefits of prenatal natural vitamins

“Prenatal natural vitamins support with all round well being and wellness making positive that all necessary natural vitamins and minerals are ingested,” Brotman tells Romper. Although you do not need to have a prenatal vitamin if you are not pregnant, nursing, or hoping to conceive, there are major rewards to using prenatals every day if you are.

“In buy to lessen the hazard of obtaining a little one with neural tube flaws, it is suggested that females who are making an attempt to develop into expecting get 400-800 micrograms of the [folic acid] each day,” Gaither tells Romper. Iron supports the growth of the placenta, and Gaither says the proposed intake of iron is 27 mg for every day. “It’s crucial in the creation of purple blood cells, and way too minimal reserve can consequence in iron deficiency anemia.” As for calcium, she says that it’s essential for bone improvement in the fetus and expecting gals have to have about 1000 mg/working day. You may perhaps see your prenatal only has 200 or 300 mg which is for the reason that the relaxation of the each day prerequisite ought to be achieved by diet.

If you accidentally acquire prenatals and you’re not pregnant or you have some leftover from when you were being pregnant, you’re almost certainly questioning if you can choose prenatals when you’re not expecting. It is not the finish of the environment to take them, but you won’t get any real reward other than what you would from any other vitamin. Additionally, prenatals are usually a lot more highly-priced than their counterparts, so it just doesn’t really make sense.

Specialists:

Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, FACOG, double board-accredited in OB/GYN and Maternal Fetal Medicine

Monique Brotman, board-accredited OB/GYN