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Expert Q&A
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| By Traci Kurtzer Obstetrician and Gynecologist | ||
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If I am planning on trying to conceive in the next three months, should I start taking prenatal vitamins now, or just normal multi-vitamins and B-supplements? Does it matter?
You need to take a minimum of 0.4 mg folic acid daily. This can be from an over-the-counter multivitamin, prenatal vitamin or just folic acid itself. If you have ever had a baby with a neural tube defect, like spina bifida, you need to increase the amount of the folic acid to 4 mg daily. These ideally need to be started 3 months prior to conception to minimize the risk of neural tube defects.
Related Expert Q&A
- Should I start taking prenatal vitamins now, or just normal multi-vitamins and B-supplements?
- When should I start taking folic acid and does it build up in my system before it works?
- Is it a problem to be overweight and pregnant?
- Should I start taking prenatal vitamins months before TTC?
- How do I ensure that I don't gain unhealthy pounds when I get pregnant?
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