Prenatal Vitamin

1. See Also
   1. Preconception Counseling
2. Indications
   1. Start prior to conception of pregnancy
3. Key components (Higher doses than standard vitamins)
   1. Folate 400 ug (See Folic Acid for references)
      1. Dose is higher if increased risk of
         1. Folate 4 mg started 3 months before pregnancy and continued for first trimesterneural tube defects indications
            1. Prior Neural Tube Defect
            2. Use of Valproate or Carbamazepine
         2. Dose 800 mcg daily
            1. Anti-epileptic drugs other than Valproate or Carbamazepine
      2. Most important component in Prenatal Vitamins
      3. Reduces Neural Tube Defects by 50% at conception
         1. Spina bifida
         2. Anencephaly
      4. Reduced fetal risk of Cleft Lip and Palate by 25-50%
      5. Reduces conotruncal heart defects by 43%
   2. Calcium 250 mg
      1. Diet needs supply 750 mg/day to total 1000 mg/day
      2. See Calcium Supplementation
   3. Iron Supplementation (30 mg iron)
      1. Higher iron contents are not well absorbed
4. Other Components
   1. Magnesium Supplementation (320 mg Magnesium)
   2. Vitamin C 65 mg
   3. Zinc 25 mg (See Zinc for references)
      1. Increases birth weight and Head Circumference
      2. Results in birth at later gestational age
      3. Results in shorter hospital stay
   4. Vitamin A 800 mcg (8,000 IU)
      1. Should not exceed 1000 mcg (10,000 IU)
      2. Teratogen at higher doses
   5. Vitamin D 10 mcg
   6. Vitamin E 10 mcg
   7. B Vitamins
      1. Vitamin B6 2.2 mcg
      2. Thiamine
      3. Riboflavin
5. Non-Vitamin Components
   1. Docusate sodium (Stool Softener)