"People laugh when they see a prenatal on my shelf. I'm not pregnant. I take it because it's the only one that had what I was actually looking for."
People usually take it for:
- Extra vitamins and minerals for when you're pregnant
- Some people take one as an everyday multivitamin, with their doctor's OK
This one surprises people! No, I'm not pregnant. I compared a lot of multivitamins and picked a prenatal with methylated folate, a kind of folate that's ready for your body to use. Ask your doctor what's right for you.
Why I like it: It gives me a broad range of vitamins and minerals in one supplement.
Can you take a prenatal vitamin if you're not pregnant?
Some people take a prenatal as an everyday multivitamin for the folate and minerals, so check with your doctor first. On folate, the NIH is clear: folic acid before and early in pregnancy helps prevent serious birth defects of the brain and spine, and any woman who could get pregnant should get 400 mcg a day. Timing is why. Those parts form in the first month, often before a woman knows she's pregnant. The NIH fact sheet →
More from Supplements and the Research Behind Them →
Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, and this page is for informational purposes only. It's not medical advice. Please talk with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially if you're pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or managing a health condition. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and none of these products are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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