what are Prenatal vitamins where do i get them and how mush do they generally cost?

Question

* m u c h . . . . . . . . .

i know they make your hair and nails grow faster...but i would like a better explaination

Answer 1

I am a pharmacy technician and alot of people ask questions:

Prenatal Vitamins are

By eating a well-balanced diet, most women can get a good supply of the vitamins, minerals and nutrients needed for pregnancy. However, your doctor will likely prescribe a prenatal multivitamin supplement for you, since some of the nutrients in greatest demand during pregnancy — iron, calcium and folic acid — are usually in the shortest supply. Of course, most prenatal vitamins include other nutrients as well.

Even before pregnancy begins, many women are iron-deficient, and antacids for indigestion cut down on the body's ability to absorb iron even more. Phosphorus found in soft drinks and red meats cuts down on the body's ability to absorb calcium (which is abundant in milk products and certain green leafy vegetables).

Folic acid stored in your body has taken on new importance for women who wish to become pregnant. Recent studies find that folic acid may help to prevent certain birth defects, called neural tube defects. And if you were on birth control pills, your body's reserve of folic acid may have been depleted. But research in both the United States and Europe show that using vitamin supplements rich in folic acid for at least 30 days before you get pregnant can reduce your risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida (where the spine is not fully closed, causing, in some cases, paralysis or impaired use of the legs) and anencephaly (a fatal abnormality where the brain and head do not develop normally).

Vitamin supplements are included in prenatal care because a pregnant woman needs at least these basic vitamin necessities: iron (60 milligrams), folic acid (0.8 milligrams), calcium (1,200 milligrams), vitamin A (6,000 I.U.), and vitamin D (400 I.U.). A vitamin supplement must be taken every day because your body is unable to store many of these elements.

Be sure to take prenatal vitamins only as prescribed by your doctor. Large doses of certain vitamins can be extremely toxic to you and your developing baby. For example, vitamin A and vitamin D, if taken in large doses, may cause birth defects. Vitamin B6, if taken in large amounts by a pregnant woman, can cause nerve problems.

To make sure of any questions that you have I think you need to ask your doctor, but you can get them from a drugstore.

The cost varies if you get them at a pharmacy its cheaper especially if you have insurance.

Hope that helped.

Answer 2

Prenatal vitamins are usually prescribed by your physician and contain higher doses of the vitamins and minerals that you AND your baby will need to be healthy. While the 'extra' can be helpful and productive for mother and infant, I would be careful about using them if not pregnant. Vitamins and minerals can have adverse effects if your body is already producing it's natural or sufficient amount. In addition, I was always told by my physician that if you are eating the right foods and watching your intake, you normally don't need additional vitamins. As you get older, your body may require certain additional amounts, or you may need some substances that your body may not produce, but please be careful. You don't need prenatal vitamins just to make hair and nails grow. You can get specific vitamins to take care of that - or increase the natural food products that will do it. Check out health food stores - be careful of 'over the counter' wizards who sell products cheap.

Answer 3

Look for "Materna" --although you might be able to find some generic vitamins as well. They help provide any nutrition your body and diet may be lacking, and help your baby grow.

The kind I got here in Canada was about $8, I believe. They're not terribly expensive. They do contain a lot of iron, so make sure you have enough fiber in your diet, or you may become constipated. You can get them at a drug store or Walmart.

Answer 4

They don't cost that much, and you can get them at any locla drugstore. But I would recommend a health place. These viatmins have things that your body needs to provide for a healthy body and also vitamins that a woman looses to the child. For example, I know a lady that had a son that could not walk, and the doctor told her that the child was lacking folic acid. That is a vitamin all women thinking of having children have to take.

Answer 5

Prenatal vitamins are for pregnant women, they supply many nutrients and minerals that are normally lacking in our daily diets, they are high in vitamins with iron and folic acid which are great for everyone (especially women). They really are good for you hair, skin and nails. Also, Wal-Mart or any drugstore should sell them.

Answer 6

Prenatal Vitamins are generally prescribed to expectant mothers. You can not buy them over the counter, you need a scrip from your doctor.

Answer 7

prenatal vitamins have slew of vitamins that you and your baby need but may not get from a regular diet....there imprtant to take becuase the baby saps alot of good stuff from you very quickly which may make you tired and inactive which isnt good....you can get them from your OB via prescription if you dont have the money let him or her know they will give you some samples....

Answer 8

They are the vitamins you take when you are pregnant. The baby takes alot of vitamins and nutrients from your body that they need and you need to replace them.
Your obgyn should give you a prescription for them.

Answer 9

If you are pregnant, you can get samples from your doctor for free.

I have been taking them for about 6 months now and I haven't noticed much change in my hair and nails.

Answer 10

Puritans Pride. Its a vitamin catalog. www.puritan.com