Questionhi, my husband and i are trying to get pregnant. I have been to my doctor once or twice but very time i ask, i always get the runaround on what prenatal supplement would be best for me and when to start taking it. Most of the books i have read say to start taking it while trying to conceive. Is this right, and if so which one is best?
AnswerGenerally, the only differences between prenatal vitamins and regular women's multivitamins are folic acid and iron. If you are not anemic, you do not need the extra iron while trying to conceive. So you should be able to cover your bases by taking an over-the-counter women's or prenatal multivitamin, and adding in 400-1,000 mcg of folic acid (you want a total of between 1,200 and 2,000 mcg per day).
If your doctor is not willing to discuss preconception nutrition with you, you may want to consider shopping around for another doctor before you actually get pregnant. You want a doctor or midwife who is willing to listen, spend time with you, and address your concerns, not treat you like another billing number.
Good luck conceiving!
