Yes. It's hard to get all the nutrients you and your baby need,
even if your diet is close to perfect and you eat a broad range
of foods, including meat, dairy products, fruits, vegetables,
grains, and legumes. Most women can benefit from taking a
prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement, preferably before they
start trying to conceive. Think of it as an insurance policy to
make sure you're getting the right amount of certain crucial
nutrients during pregnancy. Taking a prenatal vitamin is even
more important for women with certain diets and dietary
restrictions, health issues, or pregnancy complications. This
includes women who: If you're a stickler for nutrition, you may
already be doing a pretty good job of getting what you need. But
two crucial nutrients, folic acid and iron, are always included
in prenatal vitamins because most pregnant women don't get
enough of them from food alone: Getting enough of this B vitamin
can reduce your baby's risk of neural tube defects such as spina
bifida and anencephaly by