3 supplements that optimize your fetal health
Written by Diana Adams MD
A 1) prenatal vitamin, 2) low-dose aspirin (81mg) and 3) folic acid are three basic supplements / medicines that can optimize your fetal health. I’m one for saving time, so let’s get to it!
Prenatal vitamin
This one is obvious but bears repeating, a prenatal vitamin is essential to baby’s development from preconception to pregnancy and throughout the course of breastfeeding postpartum. If you are trying for a baby, make sure you have started your prenatal and keep taking it daily! It is recommended to be taking a prenatal vitamin at least 1 month prior to conception, but 3 months is great and certainly doesn’t hurt you or your baby. Here is one I love!
Aspirin (81mg+)
81mg a day can take you and your baby’s health a looong way! What a simple thing you can take ownership of to care for your growing child in the womb.
Your OB/MFM will recommend baby aspirin if and when it is necessary, but if it hasn’t been offered, never hesitate to ask. If you have a maternal condition such as the autoimmune disorder Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), or any risk factors for preeclampsia, you will and should be recommended to take baby aspirin throughout your pregnancy. If you’ve experienced loss in the past, you may have more reason to be on baby aspirin for the next pregnancy.
“Low-dose aspirin has been used during pregnancy most commonly to prevent or delay the onset of preeclampsia. Other suggested indications for low-dose aspirin have included prevention of stillbirth, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and early pregnancy loss.” -ACOG
How to get it:
We recommend asking your doctor and having them prescribe at least 81mg (in some circumstances a higher dose is warranted) for the remainder of your pregnancy. This will save you money, and allow your care team to confirm the benefit and safety of the low dose in this pregnancy. An aspirin allergy, asthma and other preexisting conditions may prevent you from being able to take this.
When to start taking it:
It is advised to start taking it as early as 12 weeks, or by your 16th week, for the remainder of your pregnancy.
Folic acid (400-800mcg)
Folic Acid is the key ingredient to preventing neural tube defects (birth defects of the brain and spine). Here is the explanation for the range mentioned above, as guided by the FDA:
Individuals who are trying to get pregnant should be on 400mcg daily
individuals who are pregnant are recommended to get 600mcg daily
How to get it:
Folic acid is not typically prescribed, as it is expected to be had through daily food intake or via supplement both in preconception and in the earliest weeks of pregnancy. This is often before you see your OB. Purchase folic acid at any drug store or online. I love the Thorne prenatal mentioned above, which has the right amount of folate . You can also purchase Folic Acid as a separate supplement in addition to a prenatal. Go ahead and subscribe to your supplement of choice to take the thinking out of it!
When to start taking it:
It is expected that you are getting enough folic acid starting AT LEAST 1 MONTH BEFORE your pregnancy begins, and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
We hope you’ve found this article helpful, written and edited by a maternal fetal medicine specialist. Let us know if you have any questions!
