Vitamins and Minerals for You and Your Baby

Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatalvitamins are a good way to make sure you and your baby get what you need for a healthy pregnancy. Don’t let the name fool you! You can start taking them before you try to get pregnant or as soon as you find out you are pregnant.

Even if you eat healthy food, you still need to take prenatal vitamins. This is because your body needs extra vitamins and minerals in pregnancy. 

Prenatal vitamins, plus your meals, help keep you and your baby healthy. 

What to Know About Getting a Prenatal Vitamin 

At your first pregnancy visit, you’ll get a prescription for a prenatal vitamin. But you can also buy them at a store without a prescription.  

Most insurance plans cover prenatal vitamins. This includes MassHealth and Wellsense. 

All prenatal vitamins should have: 

• Calcium
• Folic acid
• Iron
• Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E 

Kinds of Prenatal Vitamins 

There are many different types of prenatal vitamins to choose from. Here’s what you need to know about each. 

Gummy 

• Double check how many gummies to take every day
• May be easier to take if you have nausea
• More expensive than pills 

Tablets 

• May be large—double check the size
• Check how many tablets to take every day
• Do not crush or chew the tablets 

Capsules 

• May be smaller than tablets
• Easier to swallow than tablets
• Check how many tablets to take every day
• Capsules can be made with gelatin, so they may not be vegan, kosher, or halal 

Potential Side Effects 

Prenatal vitamins are very safe but may cause some side effects. 

Constipation: Sometimes taking a vitamin can make it harder to poop. To prevent constipation:  

• Drink a big glass of water when you take your vitamin. Try to drink eight glasses of water a day.
• Eat foods with fiber.
• Exercise every day.  

Nausea: Sometimes vitamins can make you feel more nauseous. These tips might help: 

• Take vitamins at night before bed.
• Take vitamins with food.
• Try a gummy vitamin instead of a tablet or capsule.