Prenatal vitamins are vitamins especially formulated for the pregnant women. They are almost the same with ordinary vitamins for normal person but they contain specific nutrients in different amount. Vitamins should be taken on or before pregnancy and during post natal lactation. Prenatal vitamins are not alternative to a healthy diet. They are just support to fill the lacking essentials from the foods you eat. Consumption of these helps normal delivery of the expecting mother and the fetus to be born healthy.

Prenatal vitamins are available in prescription by medical expert on pregnant women. Normally, prescribed medicines contain higher doses of chemical. Consultation has to be done first in order to know if the level of contents will suit to anyone who will take it. Medicines can be bought over the counter. It contains amount of chemicals based on the human's general requirements. Their efficacy cannot be gauged actually from where or who they came from but the fact that human body is entirely different from one another means that they have respective reactions to every medicine. Should you buy prenatal vitamins, better consult your doctor to conduct check up on you and determine the best prenatal vitamins or follow the steps below if you opt to choose your own brand.

Basic steps to choose your prenatal vitamins:

Discuss your personal health concerns to your doctor and confess any family history about birth defects.Research about vitamins and minerals essential to the health of the pregnant women. Folate should be at the nutritional facts label.
Buy your prenatal vitamins at the licensed pharmacy. Be aware of the counterfeit medicines proliferating in the market today.
Choose prenatal vitamins containing calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin A and folic.
Ask the pharmacists on any side effects of your chosen prenatal vitamins.
Consult the doctor to confirm about any side effects noted by the pharmacist.
Prenatal vitamins are varied in form, capsule, tablets, liquid and jelly. Choose the one you are at ease taking.
The most important component of prenatal vitamins is known as folic acid as the American Dietetic Association declared. In organic form, they can be obtained in fortified commercial foods such as cereals and grains. The right level of synthetic folate (obtained from prenatal vitamins) consumption a day is 400 mg. Folate helps the fetus to be resistant against fetal diseases like neural tube defects. This defect is characterized by abnormal development of the spinal column and brain.

Although prenatal vitamins are created for the nutritional benefits of the pregnant women, it should also be noted that too much is bad. There are cases of over dosage caused by severe vitamin intake and vitamin intolerance. Nausea, vomiting and constipation are just few symptoms of the two. These conditions should not be taken for granted because the health of the fetus is also affected. To avoid over dosage, take prenatal vitamins on the prescribed basis. Vitamin intolerance is caused by system's reactions of chemicals in the vitamins. Ask a medical professional for the right prenatal vitamins for you.