Health & Pregnancy

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Talk to your doctor or nurse-midwife about any herbal supplements you have been taking. Don't take any vitamins or herbal or other supplements unless you talk with your doctor or nurse-midwife first.

Women who are trying to get pregnant and those who are pregnant should take a multivitamin that has 0.4 mg (400 mcg) to 0.8 mg (800 mcg) of folic acid. Folic acid is especially important prior to and in the first few weeks of pregnancy, because it prevents some birth defects. You can get folic acid in an over-the-counter multivitamin or in a multivitamin that your doctor or nurse-midwife prescribes. Talk to your doctor or nurse-midwife about which type of vitamin you should take. In some cases, doctors and nurse-midwives prescribe extra iron or extra folic acid.