It is important for women to be healthy when they are trying to conceive. You want your body to be in the best condition possible because you are creating another human. You want your child to be as healthy as possible, so you need to be as healthy as possible yourself. There are many factors to having a healthy pregnancy that are dependent on your personal habits before becoming pregnant. Being at a healthy weight is one of the factors. Studies have shown that women who are overweight before becoming pregnant are likely to have complication. Another factor is taking a multivitamin. If you are not getting enough nutrients, you can run the risk of having complications.
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There are some essential B-complex vitamins women should be taking for a healthy baby: folic acid and thiamin. Any woman who is of child bearing age should be taking at least 400 micrograms (standard in a women’s multivitamin) of folic acid. There are many important benefits of folic acid for the baby. Folic acid is in spinal fluid. It closes the tube around the central nervous system. It also helps create DNA and the keeps the brain functioning normal. Studies have shown that by taking folic acid women can reduce the risk of neural tube defects by 70%. When a woman who becomes pregnant, she should increase her intake of folic acid to about 800 micrograms. Folic acid is a water soluble vitamin. Your body will flush any excess from your body. You can get most of your folic acid from a vitamin supplement. It is also found in lentils, some fortified cereals, and asparagus.

Calcium, vitamin A, folic acid, and thiamin are very essential nutrients to a healthy mother and baby. Women who are old enough to bear children should be taking a multivitamin. Then when you become pregnant you should begin taking a prenatal vitamin. You will be getting enough nutrients for you and the baby and you can prevent certain birth defects. It is important to realize that every mother is different, and will have different needs. Before increasing any vitamin or mineral intake it is important to talk over your changes in dietary practices with a health care professional.

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