During pregnancy, most doctors will prescribe or recommend taking prenatal vitamins to help ensure the mother takes in adequate nutrition for the growing needs of the baby. Prenatal vitamins are specifically designed for a pregnant woman's needs as well as the added nutritional needs her body needs to help support the growth of the baby.

1. Take prenatal vitamins with food.

2. Vitamins absorb best when taking in the morning.

3. Always follow your doctor's orders for taking vitamins.

4. Vitamins help supplement diet so baby grows strong and healthy.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.

When a woman is pregnant, she needs to eat better and take better care of herself than when she's not pregnant, because her body is responsible for the health and nutrition of her growing baby, which will use the reserves of nutrition she has for herself. Thus, prenatal vitamins help add to that reserve.

Unfortunately, many of the added vitamins in prenatal vitamin formulas can be hard on a pregnant stomach, especially in the first three months of pregnancy, when morning sickness is often at its worst but the baby needs the most nutrition.

Knowing how to take prenatal vitamins--when, how often, what type, with or without food--can make the difference in how you feel and the nutritional benefit you and your baby receive.

Your doctor will likely prescribe or recommend a particular type of prenatal vitamin supplement to help you receive proper nutritional support for the growth of the baby. Depending on your pregnancy needs, the doctor might prescribe a special vitamin / mineral supplement with or without iron, or recommend one from the store. Follow what the doctor suggests before anything you find on the internet, including this guide. Your doctor knows best what you and your baby needs.

Whether prenatal vitamins or multi vitamin and mineral supplements, these vitamins always work best when taken with food. Not only will food on the stomach help to absorb the prenatal vitamins, but vitamins work better when they can bond with naturally occurring same or similar vitamins in food.

Also, taking prenatal vitamins with food can help prevent the vitamins from upsetting the stomach.

Taking vitamins in the morning, before you start your day, with your breakfast can help absorb the nutritional aspect of vitamins early, giving energy and stamina for the day--something that's important during pregnancy. Vitamins show better efficacy and absorption rates when taken first thing to start your day.