Can I take a multivitamin instead of prenatal vitamins? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

Can I take a multivitamin instead of prenatal vitamins?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

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UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

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  • Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated multivitamins for women that have a larger amount of folic acid included in them.
  • Pregnant women, nursing women, and women that are trying to conceive need an increased amount of folic acid in their diets because it greatly reduces the chance of birth defects.
  • Ideally, pregnant women should increase their folic acid intake through both consuming folic acid supplements as well as a folic acid-rich diet.

Essentially, prenatal vitamins are specially formulated multivitamins for women that have a larger amount of folic acid included in them.

If you have been told to take prenatal vitamins in preparation for the birth of your child, substituting them for multivitamins is possible as long as you take a folic acid supplement.

The American Pregnancy Association website goes into great detail about the supplement needs of pregnant women.

Pregnant women, nursing women, and women that are trying to conceive need an increased amount of folic acid in their diets because it greatly reduces the chance of birth defects.

Folic acid, also known as folate, can be found in a multitude of foods.

However, the Office of Dietary Supplements states that pregnant women can get better health benefits from taking folic acid supplements than by relying on diet alone.

Staying healthy during pregnancy is crucial. If cleared by your doctor, exercise should be done regularly. For a workout that you can do from the comfort of your own home, go PRO today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, and more. 

Why Do Pregnant Women Need More Folic Acid?

Folic acid is essential for the development of healthy babies. Most women’s multivitamins are formulated for women of childbearing age, however, they usually do not contain enough folic acid necessary for supporting healthy pregnancies.

March of Dimes notes that folic acid supplements are equally important in the prevention of birth defects as eating a diet that is rich in this form of vitamin B. Although not all pregnant women take folic acid supplements, WebMD cites numerous neural tube defects related to complications that can occur because of folic acid deficiency.

When pregnant women are unable to ingest enough folic acid, their babies are more likely to have life-long medical issues. Not only is folic acid essential during pregnancy, but it should also be taken by any woman that plans on becoming pregnant in the near future.

Can Pregnant Women Increase Their Folic Acid Intake Instead of Taking a Supplement?

Pregnant women have highly specific dietary needs, including larger doses of folic acid. Eating a diet that is rich in folic acid may help to prevent many different kinds of neural tube defects from occurring, however, doctors still recommend folic acid supplements.

Ideally, pregnant women should increase their folic acid intake through both consuming folic acid supplements as well as a folic acid-rich diet. The foods that are normally suggested to pregnant women looking to increase their folic acid intake include spinach, whole wheat, beans, and pasta.

In some parts of the world, it is difficult for pregnant women to get access to folic acid supplements or multivitamins specifically made for women. Because of this, neural tube defects occur at a much higher rate in third world countries.

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What Happens If a Pregnant Woman Doesn’t Get Enough Folic Acid?

If a pregnant woman does not get enough folic acid both before and during gestation, one of two things could happen. In many cases, the baby will be born perfectly healthy.

Unfortunately, neural tube defects can develop early on in pregnancy, thus causing the baby to be born with serious health conditions. There is no way to measure the total number of babies born worldwide with neural tube defects because of their mothers’ folic acid deficiency.

The Center for Disease Control reports that around 60% of all babies born with neural tube defects may be related to a lack of sufficient folic acid intake. These statistics only take pregnant women living in the US into account.

It is likely that the number of children with neural tube defects is much higher due to their mothers not being able to get enough folic acid during pregnancy.

How Much Folic Acid Do Pregnant Women Need?

Women who are pregnant need approximately 600 micrograms daily of folic acid, according to the Office on Women’s Health. Some pregnant women may need slightly more or less folic acid, depending on their age, weight, and height.

Many women have been able to go through healthy pregnancies without taking folic acid supplements. However, the risk of neural tube defects goes up as women near menopause.

Everyone needs folic acid to maintain healthy bodies. Since pregnant women also carry developing babies, their needs are increased significantly.

Folic acid can also be consumed in the form of complete vitamin B supplements. Most pregnant women choose to take a multivitamin that is rich in folic acid instead of taking several supplements separately.

Doctors are able to perform blood testing and ask patients to maintain daily food journals in order to determine if enough folic acid is being consumed on a daily basis.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long after pregnancy until you can exercise again?

The common rule is to wait six weeks after a vaginal delivery and eight weeks after a C-section. However, this is simply a common rule and you should always follow your doctor’s instructions.

Does breastfeeding burn calories?

Breastfeeding burns, on average, an additional 500 calories a day.

Can I exercise if I have diastasis recti?

Yes. However, you should avoid exercises that can separate the abdominals even more like crunches, planks, twisting motions, heavy lifting, and any sudden movements.

If you want to keep your heart healthy during pregnancy, consider a workout that can be done from your home. Go PRO today for access to certified personal trainers that can provide you with safe and effective at-home workouts. 

 

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