When a woman decides that she would like to have a baby, she should consider taking pregnancy supplements. Pregnancy supplements or “prenatal vitamins” may be taken before, during, and after pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins are recommended by doctors because a pregnant woman, or a woman that may be planning to become pregnant, needs additional vitamins such as folic acid, iron, zinc, and calcium.

Folic acid is one of the B-group vitamins. B vitamins help with the development of the baby’s nervous system. It also helps prevent neural defects and congenital malformation. Folic acid can be found in beans, rice, orange juice, fruit, green vegetables, lentils, and rice. Doctors recommend a minimum of 400 additional micrograms (mcg) of folic acid a day in addition to obtaining folic acid from foods. Many pregnancy supplements contain 800 mcg.

Iron is essential during pregnancy because it’s needed to produce the right amount of blood necessary to supply nutrition to the placenta. Iron can be found in broccoli, spinach, whole meal bread, muesli, and strawberries, but getting enough through food sources may be difficult. Some doctors recommend 28 milligrams of iron daily for pregnant or soon-to-be pregnant women. When taken with vitamin C, as a supplement, in fruit, or fruit juice, iron is absorbed more easily.

Zinc and Calcium are necessary for the healthy development of the developing embryo. If you pay close attention to your diet, it’s possible to get enough calcium and zinc from food sources, but because this is not always realistic, some doctors recommend an additional 25 milligrams (mg) of zinc and 200 milligrams of calcium from supplements. Zinc is found in oysters, wheat germ, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, squash seeds, peanuts, and dark chocolate. Calcium can be found in spinach, fortified orange juice, soymilk, sardines, tofu, turnip greens, navy beans, brown rice, oats, shrimp, almonds, and oysters.

There are literally hundreds of brands of prenatal vitamins on the market. Brand is not as important as the right combination and amount per pill. The best pregnancy supplements typically have a minimum of:

Vitamin A: 4,000 IU
Vitamin C: 120 mg
Vitamin D: 400 IU
Vitamin E: 30 IU
Thiamin: 1.8 mg
Riboflavin: 1.7 mg
Niacin: 20 mg
Vitamin B-6: 2.6 mg
Folic Acid: 800 mcg
Vitamin B-12: 8 mcg
Calcium: 200 mg
Iron: 28 mg
Zinc: 25 mg

Many pregnancy supplements are also made with allergies and food sensitivities in mind. Many are made without yeast, gluten, milk, lactose sugar, preservatives, salt, artificial flavors or soy.

It is important to note that doctors recommendations may vary based on the woman’s physical condition, diet, and other factors, so it’s always best to consult with your physician before taking pregnancy supplements.