Vitamins and Minerals

Important Vitamins and Minerals During Pregnancy

Nutrient	What it Does	How Much?
Folic acid	Helps to prevent birth defects like spina bifida	0.4 mg
Iron	Needed to make extra blood for baby.	16-20 mg
Vitamin D and Calcium	Help to build baby’s bones and teeth.	Eat more vitamin D and calcium rich foods – cow’s milk, fortified soy beverages, yogurt, cheese and fish.

You can often get these nutrients from a prenatal vitamin. A health care professional can help you find one.

Related Resources

• Healthy Eating for a Healthy Baby
• Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
• Eating Right During Pregnancy
• Take the Healthy Pregnancy Quiz

Related Topics

• Artificial Sweeteners in Pregnancy
• Caffeine and Herbal Teas
• Food Safety During Pregnancy
• Healthy Eating for a Healthy Baby
• Healthy Weight Gain in Pregnancy
• Mercury and Fish in Pregnancy
• Pregnancy
• Prenatal Care