Preconception vitamins for fertility, prenatal vitamins for pregnancy
We all know that vitamins and minerals are vital to health. It’s the same as far as fertility is concerned. While eating a healthy and well-balanced diet does provide the essential nutrients needed to maintain your health every day, your daily food intake is unlikely to meet the vitamins and mineral requirements to prepare your body for optimal fertility. Even taking prenatal vitamins for pregnancy may not be sufficient to give your fertility level a boost.
Therefore, the best way to ensure you receive the amount of nutrients you need to promote fertility and create the most favorable environment for your developing child is to combine the right diet and the right preconception supplements.
Learn what preconception supplements you should be taking and what mistakes to avoid to increase your odds of conceiving – all in Personal Path to Pregnancy.
Preconception vitamins to get pregnant vs prenatal vitamins for pregnancy
Your doctor may recommend you to take prenatal vitamins for pregnancy when you tell him that you are trying to conceive. However, prenatal vitamins and supplements are mainly intended to fortify the fetus; they prepare you for a healthy and strong pregnancy, but they do not help you to get pregnant. What you really need to increase fertility naturally to get pregnant is preconception vitamins. You can switch to a prenatal supplement once you become pregnant.
Below are some of the recommended daily amounts of preconception vitamins and minerals:
* Vitamin C – 100-250 mg
* Vitamin D – 200-300 IU
* Vitamin E – 10-50 IU
* Folic acid – 800 mcg or more
* B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B12) – varying amounts
* Calcium – 250-300 mg
* Zinc – 15-25 mg
* Iron – 2 mg or more
* Magnesium – 250-500 mg
* Selenium – 50-100 mcg
(Source of vitamins and minerals daily requirement: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Getting Pregnant)
In addition, the amino acid L-arginine is important to promote fertility in both men and women. This amino acid should also be included in your preconception supplement in an amount of no less than 2 g per day. L-arginine helps to nourish the ovaries and the endometrial lining by improving blood flow to the pelvis. In sub-fertile men, L-arginine may enhance sperm function.
Here are some tips to help you on choosing and taking a preconception supplement (also applies to prenatal vitamins for pregnancy):
* Avoid one-a-day dosing supplements, as they tend to deliver excessively high levels of vitamins or minerals in a single tablet or capsule. It’s better to spread your supplement intake over the day, taking one with each meal.
* Never take a heavy-duty vitamin-mineral supplement on an empty stomach, as this may lead to cramps and nausea, and also inhibit your body’s ability to absorb the nutrients.
* Always keep your supplements in the fridge, especially if they contain fats or oils.
Most preconception vitamins and supplements can be taken safely on your own for the benefits of your hormonal and reproductive systems. However, you should inform your doctor of all the supplements that you’re taking if you’re on a fertility treatment. Certain substances may interact with fertility drugs or shouldn’t be taken once you become pregnant.