The Best Time To Get Pregnant
You are most likely to conceive if you have sex within a day or so of ovulation. This is usually about 14 days after the first day of your last period.
An egg lives for about 12-24 hours after it is released. For you to become pregnant, the egg must be fertilised within this time. Sperm can live for up to seven days inside a womans body. So, if you have had sex in the seven days before ovulation, the sperm will have had time to travel up the fallopian tubes to wait for the egg to be released.
Vitamins That Help You Get Pregnant Faster
Can the taking of any type of vitamin or supplement actually help you conceive a child faster than those who dont take vitamins? Can vitamins actually increase your fertility? The answer is yes if you ask experts at the Texas Fertility Center. According to fertility specialists, you need a good nutritional status in order to help your body conceive a child. This seems to hold true of both men and women.
For women, it may mean just taking a good prenatal vitamin. Research has indicated that taking a prenatal vitamin can not only decrease your chances of having a preterm birth and decrease your chances of pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, but it can maximize your fertility.
In one recent study, women who were trying to get pregnant through fertility treatments got pregnant faster than women who didnt take prenatal vitamins. In fact, the participants who took prenatal vitamins had a doubling of their chances of becoming pregnant when compared to participants who just took folic acid prior to conceiving.
What this means is that it is possible to get pregnant faster if you take a prenatal vitamin, although research hasnt been done on women who arent undergoing fertility treatments and who take a prenatal vitamin. Prenatal vitamins can be purchased over the counter and cant hurt you, even if you take them while not pregnant.
These particular vitamins have the ability to enhance your fertility. You can take them alone or as a part of the total prenatal pill package:
Pregnancy Vitamins And Nutrients
A balanced nutritious diet is the best way to receive the necessary vitamins and nutrients you need for pregnancy, but vitamin supplements can also be beneficial. Prenatal vitamin supplements are recommended plus any additional vitamins or minerals if your doctor finds any deficiencies. Remember, supplements do not replace a healthy diet, but rather ensure that a woman is receiving enough daily nutrients. And its important to note that pregnant women should take vitamin supplements onlywith a health care providers direct recommendation.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Earliest Pregnancy Symptoms Can Start
Which Foods Are High In Folic Acid
You can get folic acid in broccoli, peas, kale, brussel sprouts, oranges and brown rice . Its also added to some breakfast cereals.
Watch out for folic acid being lost when you cook vegetables. Boil for as little time as possible or steam or microwave instead . For more about what to eat and what not to eat when you’re pregnant, see here.
Do You Need To Take Prenatal Vitamins When Pregnant
Yes, you need to take prenatal vitamins while pregnant. Prenatal vitamins are specially designed to deliver the specific types and amounts of nutrients needed during various stages of your babys development, so a run-of-the-mill multivitamin wont cut it. They also ensure you have enough nutrients so your own body doesnt become depleted.
Folic acid, for example, is essential for babys brain and spine development in the earliest stages. Your body needs twice as much iron during pregnancy than it did before you were pregnant. And many prenatals also have vitamin D and calcium to build strong bones and teeth during the third trimester.
Also Check: How Long After Birth Control Implant Can You Get Pregnant
Top 10 Best Prenatal Vitamin To Take When Trying To Get Pregnant In 2022
With an increasing number of options on the market, its becoming harder to sort through the noise and find the best Prenatal Vitamin To Take When Trying To Get Pregnant that suits your particular needs.
Thats why were here to assist you in picking the best Prenatal Vitamin To Take When Trying To Get Pregnant . We have gone through the difficult process of evaluating every product in detail to find the best one. Whether youre buying for the first time or looking for an upgrade. Brace yourself for everything you need to know about buying the best product available.
So Without further ado, lets jump right in!
Here is our Top 10 Recommendations!
Vitamin D In Pregnancy
You need 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day and should consider taking a supplement containing this amount between September and March.
Vitamin D regulates the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, which are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Our bodies make vitamin D when our skin is exposed to summer sunlight .
It’s not known exactly how much time is needed in the sun to make enough vitamin D to meet the body’s needs, but if you’re in the sun take care to cover up or protect your skin with sunscreen before you start to turn red or burn.
Vitamin D is also in some foods, including:
Vitamin D is added to some breakfast cereals, fat spreads and non-dairy milk alternatives. The amounts added to these products can vary and might only be small.
Because vitamin D is only found in a small number of foods, whether naturally or added, it is difficult to get enough from foods alone.
Do not take more than 100 micrograms of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful.
You can get vitamin supplements containing vitamin D free of charge if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding and qualify for the Healthy Start scheme.
There have been some reports about vitamin D reducing the risk of coronavirus . But there is currently not enough evidence to support taking vitamin D solely to prevent or treat COVID-19.
Read Also: How Do You Determine How Far Along In Pregnancy
Do I Need To Take Supplements
It’s recommended that all pregnant women in Australia take folic acid, iodine and vitamin D supplements.
Having a healthy diet is important and should provide you with the other nutrients you need. Check the Australian Dietary Guidelines for more advice. However, some pregnant women may need supplements of other nutrients besides folic acid, iodine and vitamin D.
If you have a known deficiency, your doctor might advise you to take a supplement. For example:
- if you are vegetarian or vegan and not getting enough vitamin B12
- if you don’t get enough calcium, which is vital for bone health, from dairy or other calcium-rich foods
- if you are low in iron
- if you may be low in omega-3 fatty acids, e.g. if you eat very little seafood
If you’re not sure whether you need a supplement, talk to your doctor.
Supplements During Pregnancy: Whats Safe And Whats Not
If youre pregnant, you may think that feeling overwhelmed and confused comes with the territory. But it doesnt have to be so confusing when it comes to vitamins and supplements.
If you did your extra credit work, we bet you already know that high mercury seafood, alcohol, and cigarettes are off-limits during pregnancy. What may surprise you is that some vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements should be avoided as well.
Information on which supplements are safe and which arent varies and can make things feel even more complicated. Weve got you, though.
This article breaks down which supplements are believed to be safe to take during pregnancy and why some supplements should be avoided.
Getting the right nutrients is important at every stage of life, but its especially critical during pregnancy, as youll need to nourish both yourself and your growing babe.
Read Also: How Much Robitussin Can I Take While Pregnant
Best Prenatal Vitamins Before Pregnancy
Congratulations, you are thinking about getting pregnant! Pregnancy is one of the most exciting times of your life, and you may be wonder, do prenatal vitamins help you get pregnant? However, the short answer is no they help prevent pregnancy complications, such as low birth weight and premature birth. Ultimately helping you experience a healthy pregnancy and childbirth.
Prenatal multivitamins may not help your chances of getting pregnant, but they reduce your chances of birth defects. Their use significantly helps reduce the likelihood of neural tube defects, spina bifida and is associates with a lower risk of miscarriage. Think of them as an extra insurance policy with essential nutrients that help fill the nutritional gap of your daily food intake.
We recommend you add a prenatal multivitamin before getting pregnant. While doing this may not make you pregnant, it may help prepare your body to nourish your eggs and aid your uterus to be in optimal condition for implantation. Here are the benefits of taking prenatal vitamins before pregnancy.
Dont Miss: Can Vitamin B Help With Weight Loss
Importance Of Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is very common with about one billion people around the world thought to be deficient. The signs and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can include muscle weakness and fatigue along with bone pain and weakness. Some further studies have also linked vitamin D deficiency with depression.
Vitamin D also has an essential role in supporting the immune system triggering the immune cells to produce antibodies. So people who are deficient in vitamin D may be immunocompromised and more prone to infections.
This is of course particularly relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic, as research has indicated that people who have sub-optimal vitamin D may be more susceptible to the virus.
There has also been some speculation that the higher proportion of deaths among overweight and BAME people in the UK may be related to low vitamin D levels.
This is why the Department of Health has increased its public health messaging around the importance of vitamin D supplementation. Indeed, scientists have also recently suggested that vitamin D should be added to bread and milk to help fight COVID-19.
Recommended Reading: How Long After Having Mirena Removed Can I Get Pregnant
Multivitamin With Folic Acid
Parsley Healths Jeffery Egler, MD, tells me that his pre-pregnancy health recommendations arent really all that different from his regular health recommendations. As such, he offers an appropriately simple solution. Consider a multivitamin, particularly one with at least 400-800 mcg of a methylated folate, he advises.
Theres a reason Dr. Egler makes that folic acid disclaimer. According to Dr. Williams, its been shown to support healthy pregnancy outcomes, and not just for those who are already knocked up. Even before a womans pregnant, folic acid may play an important role in egg development and help to ensure that the woman ovulates a healthy egg, he says. As he explains it, though a womans lifetime supply of eggs is present at birth, each individual egg starts to develop three months before its released at ovulation. When they start to grow, its important that they have that folic acid available to them, to try to give them the healthiest chances, Dr. Williams says.
Also Check: What To Expect When Wife Is Pregnant
What Are The Different Kinds Of Prenatals
Walking into the pharmacy or searching for prenatals on Amazon makes it feel like there are approximately 10 billion different kinds of prenatals. But they can broadly be divided into these categories:
- Capsules or tablets: “If a woman wants to get all the necessary vitamins and minerals in one prenatal vitamin, a pill that you swallow whole is the best choice,” says Purdie.
- Liquids, powders and chewables: “For women experiencing nausea, a chewable or liquid vitamin may be a better option, but these may be missing some of the above essential nutrients,” says Dr. Purdie. It is important to read the labels to see if you would need to take an additional supplement.
- Prescription: Some women who experience side effects with their prenatals may want a prescription. “Both prescription and over-the-counter vitamins will have all the necessary nutrients, however, the formulation may be different the prescription vitamin may have iron that causes less constipation, or it may include a stool softener to help with constipation or vitamin B6 to help with nausea, says Dr. Purdie. But assuming you can tolerate the OTC versions, there’s no reason to go running to the doctor. “In general it’s easier, more convenient and maybe even less expensive to stick with an over-the-counter vitamin,” Dr. Rankins adds.
Recommended Reading: Is It Safe To Take Tums When Pregnant
What Is The Best Prenatal Vitamin
The best prenatal is the one youre actually going to take consistently, says Dr. Nwankwo.
Vitamins come in multiple forms: pill, soft-gel capsule and gummies. For some, swallowing and holding down a pill can be difficult especially when youre queasy due to morning sickness. If thats your situation, try a soft-gel capsule or a gummy vitamin.
Here are some of the most popular choices recommended by doctors and real parents to consider when deciding on the best prenatal vitamin for you.
Best Affordable Prenatal Vitamins
Its no surprise that everyones favorite one-stop online shopping resource is now in the vitamins business. Solimo, Amazons own brand of everyday essentials, makes a prenatal gummy vitamin that includes nine vitamins and minerals , omega-3s, choline and more. Theyre also extremely affordable.
Keep in Mind
These vitamins are gluten-free but theyre not vegan, as they contain fish oil and pork gelatin. And theres no iron or calcium.
Are There Any Risk Factors Or Concerns
Taking birth control rarely has any long term impacts on your fertility, assures Dr. Minken. Still, there may be other factors that influence how quickly you can get pregnant after stopping birth control, including common fertility issues such as hormonal issues, thyroid issues, issues with your reproductive organs, and health conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome that can make conception more difficult. Fertility is a two-way street, and problems with your partners sperm or sperm production can contribute to fertility issues as well.
Infertility is defined as the inability to get pregnant after 12 month of trying. If you are over the age of 35, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that you visit a healthcare provider if youre having trouble conceiving after 6 months of trying if you are over 40, its recommended you see your provider even sooner.
For most healthy couples, though, its just a matter of trying each month, and mustering up a bit of patience, knowing that its normal for it to take a few months to get a positive pregnancy test. If you are looking to maximize your chances of getting pregnant once you quit birth control and are ready to try, Dr. Minken has some tips: I would encourage anyone trying to conceive to eat a healthy diet, dont smoke, dont drink, dont take drugs, and do take folic acid supplementation daily to help prevent birth defects.
Also Check: How Soon After Stopping The Pill Can I Get Pregnant
What Do Prenatal Supplements Do
As the name suggests, prenatal supplements are supplements that provide women with a dose of vitamins and minerals they need to help keep themselves and their baby healthy during pregnancy.1
Of all the prenatal vitamins, folic acid is up there as being one of the main supplements to take before getting pregnant.
Part of the vitamin B family, folic acid is essential for cell growth and development.
Taking 400mcg of folic acid every day for at least 1 month before and during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of your baby developing brain and spine health issues, which are known as Neural Tube Defects .
According to the NHS, you should continue to take folic acid until you are 12 weeks into your pregnancy.2
Vitamin D is also recognised as being an important prenatal vitamin too.
Ideally, we all need 10mcg of vitamin D a day and should consider taking a supplement to make sure our levels are maintained during September and March when we have limited sun exposure.
This particular vitamin is responsible for regulating our calcium and phosphate levels, which keep our bones, teeth and muscles healthy.
Taking more than 100mcg of vitamin D a day can be harmful to you and your baby.
Folic acid and vitamin D aside, there are also prenatal supplements that contain a blend of several vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin E, selenium, vitamin D and vitamin B6, all rolled into one prenatal multivitamin.
Fertility Drugs For Women
Many types of fertility medications for women are available today. You may notice that there are more drugs listed in this article for women than for men. Thats largely because its easier to promote egg production in women than it is to increase sperm count in men. Here are the common fertility medications for women.
Dont Miss: How Quickly After Getting Pregnant Do You Get Morning Sickness
Also Check: What To Use For Stretch Marks While Pregnant
Can Vitamins Help Get Pregnant With Twins
Specific vitamins have been linked with multiple births. Specifically, the vitamin responsible for twins is folic acid or vitamin B 9. This vitamin is known to stimulate both fraternal and identical twins in women who take sufficient amounts of it before and during the pregnancies.
Folic acid and other vitamins responsible for twin births can be found in supplements or specific foods.
What Vitamins Need To Be In Them
Its important to remember that each person has slightly different nutritional needs based on genetics and any pre-existing health conditions. Always check with your provider about your specific needs for a prenatal, and if you’re a vegetarian or vegan during pregnancy, be sure to tell your doctor to ensure you’re getting the right nutrients.
That said, the following vitamins and minerals, listed here with the recommended daily amount , are considered must-haves during pregnancy. You can get many of these nutrients in your diet, but prenatal vitamins are meant to fill in any gaps. Note that while you shouldnt expect your prenatal to contain full RDAs of every single ingredient listed, they should have decent doses of the following:
You may also want to consider these extras when selecting a prenatal vitamin:
- DHA: Regular prenatal vitamins may not contain DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in many types of fish. DHA may aid in babys brain development, both before and after birth. If youre unable to get the recommended two to three servings of pregnancy-safe fatty fish per week, ask your doctor if you should take a supplement.
- Other nutrients: You might also see several other additions on the label such as copper, choline, thiamin, vitamin B12, magnesium and ginger or vitamin B6 .
Don’t Miss: Is It Better To Get Pregnant When Fertile Or Ovulating
