If you are trying to conceive a baby, you need to know about vitamins to help get pregnant. The body needs a wide range of different vitamins and minerals in order to increase fertility. Supplementing B-Complex, vitamin E and C are needed by the body for healthy conception and pregnancy. Listed below are the necessary fertility vitamins as well as tips for taking them.
Vitamins and Minerals That Help You Get Pregnant
Check out these vitamins for conception and bear in mind how much you should take. You should always remember that prior to taking any vitamins to help get pregnant, consult with your doctor who can make the best recommendations based on your condition.
1. Multivitamins
You should already be taking a good multivitamin for overall general health. Taking a multivitamin well before trying to conceive can increase healthy ovulation and fertility. Research has shown that women who use multivitamins daily have less chance of issues with ovulation.
2. Folic Acid
This is a very important vitamin if you are trying to conceive. You need to be taking it well before you get pregnant to prevent neural tube defects in your baby. The American Pregnancy Association states that ALL women who are in their childbearing years take 400 mcg daily regardless of if they are trying to have a baby or not. This is because if you become pregnant any neural tube defects happen very early in pregnancy and enough folic acid lessens this risk. Foods containing high amounts of folic acid are leafy greens, citrus foods, and whole grains.
3. Zinc
Zinc is a known mineral to increase fertility in both men and women. It helps women ovulate and increases testosterone production in men. Women should be taking 8 mg of zinc and men need 11 mg of zinc. Increasing foods like oysters, whole grains, seafood, beans and dairy can give you more zinc.
4. Vitamin B6
Not only does this vitamin help get the body ready for pregnancy, it can also help reduce morning sickness if taken before conception. Studies show that women who took B6 prior to conception had less morning sickness. Get at least 10mg daily. Foods high in B6 are soy protein foods, cereal, meat, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.
5. Coenzyme Q10
There is some preliminary date from research that CoQ10 can help increase fertility by improving the quality of eggs. If you are an older woman trying to conceive, CoQ10 may help improve your eggs. In men, it may increase the sperm count. The recommended adult dose is 30 to 200mg divided during the day.
6. Calcium
Women who are trying to have a baby need to start taking calcium prior to pregnancy. This is because the developing baby can leach calcium from your body. Your baby’s bones and teeth need extra calcium to form. Your bones need calcium to stay strong and healthy. To prevent your baby from taking your calcium, you will need to supplement and/or eat plenty of calcium rich foods. All women should be taking around 1,000 mg per day and during pregnancy eat enough milk, cheese and leafy green vegetables.
7. Omega 3 Fatty Acid
This essential fatty acid may help those trying to get pregnant with IVF. Research studies show that it may improve the quality of the embryo. For any others trying to get pregnant, taking Omega 3 during pregnancy can help with the healthy development of baby’s brain cells and nervous system.
8. Iron
Iron is another supplement women provide for their baby during pregnancy and it's also important that you don't lack in it prior to getting pregnant. It is important to get enough because it makes hemoglobin, the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen to the cells and tissues of the body. If your iron gets low and you suffer from anemia, you may feel more tired than usual. Prenatal vitamins contain iron and you can also get it from dark leafy greens, red meat and tofu. Pregnant women need 27 mg per day.
9. Selenium
Selenium is an important antioxidant that can fight off free-radicals in the body. This helps to lower the risk of certain birth defects. For your partner, it may help to improve the sperm count. Only take 100 to 200 mcg daily, selenium can be toxic in large doses.
10. Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps with fertility in men by keeping the sperm from clumping. Women taking the fertility medication, clomiphene, seem to benefit from added vitamin c. Most of all vitamin C helps with iron absorption and with building healthy tissue. The recommended daily amount is 1,00mg and make sure you eat plenty of citrus fruits, red and green bell pepper, broccoli, and strawberries.
11. Vitamin E
In some studies, vitamin E can possibly help raise the success of IVF treatments. It is not recommended for people on blood thinning medications and the recommended amount is 15 mg daily. You can get more vitamin E from diet by eating; wheat germ, sunflower seeds, nuts, and broccoli.
Tips and Precautions for Taking Vitamins to Help Get Pregnant
1. Avoid High Doses of Vitamins
Sometimes you can get too much of a good thing and this goes for vitamins. There are certain vitamins that can be toxic in high doses, so it is important to stay within the guidelines of recommended amounts. This includes:
- Vitamin A – Too much vitamin A (Retinol) increases the risk of birth defects in your baby. While not harmful in the lower doses, it is toxic in larger amounts.
- Iron – Iron can be toxic in large amounts. Unless your doctor prescribes more, stick to the amount in your daily vitamin or prenatal supplement.
- Calcium – Going over 1,000mg Calcium a day is not recommended. It can cause kidney or other stones. Drink plenty of water with this supplement.
- Selenium – Selenium can be toxic in large amounts. Never go over 200mg per day.
2. Know When You Need Increased Need for Folic Acid
In some instances, you may need more folic acid than the recommended amount. Check with your doctor if you have any of the following:
- History of baby with Neural Tube Defect
- Family history of a baby born with Neural Tube Defect
- You are Diabetic or have another medical condition
- You are on medication for epilepsy
- You have a blood disorder
- Your BMI is over 30
3. Get Vitamins from Foods Whenever Possible
The best source for any vitamin is where they came from naturally. Always try to eat a balanced diet that contains most of the above vitamins. Natural sources are better absorbed by the body.
4. Get Enough Vitamin D
Not only is vitamin D essential for you to absorb the calcium you need to build healthy bones and teeth in your baby, it is also a potent hormone that helps regulate all the hormones in the body. Getting enough D through fortified dairy products and sunshine helps increase your fertility hormones.
