Family planning is an exciting time full of joyful anticipation. While most future parents naturally focus on practical preparations for the arrival of their baby, one often overlooked yet essential step is so-called preconception care. This refers to health and preventive measures aimed at supporting the health of both parents and preparing them for a smooth pregnancy and healthy child development. Decisions that impact the future health of the child actually begin long before conception. In this article, you’ll learn why preparing for pregnancy is crucial and the role prenatal multivitamins play in it.
What will you learn in this article?
- Why is preparing for pregnancy so important?
- Prenatal multivitamins – your allies on the journey to parenthood
- Key nutrients in Fertility Essentials and their roles
- Other essential nutrients that should not be missing from a future mother’s diet
- Conclusion
- Key takeaways
Why is preparing for pregnancy so important?
The diet and nutrient intake of a future mother play a critical role in preparing for pregnancy. Optimal nutrition can positively affect not only fertility and pregnancy progress, but also fetal development and even the long-term health of the child into adulthood. This concept is known as “nutritional programming”, where the mother's (and later the child’s) nutrition can “program” the child’s metabolism and physiological functions, thereby influencing susceptibility to certain diseases later in life. However, many women are unaware of the far-reaching impact their diet can have before and during pregnancy.
The early phase of pregnancy, the first weeks after conception, is critical for the development of fetal organs. During this period, all vital systems begin to form. Many key developmental processes, such as the closure of the neural tube that forms the brain and spinal cord, occur very early—often before the woman even knows she is pregnant. A lack of key nutrients during this crucial period can lead to irreversible consequences, such as congenital birth defects. That’s why it’s essential to ensure adequate nutrient intake even before conception.
Prenatal multivitamins – your allies on the journey to parenthood
Many women begin taking vitamins and minerals only after confirming pregnancy, but the most critical phase for preventing certain serious birth defects occurs within the first 28 days after conception—when a woman often doesn’t yet know she’s pregnant. Prenatal vitamins taken before conception are therefore an important preventive strategy for this crucial phase of fetal development and represent a significant investment in the health of both mother and child.
Prenatal multivitamin complexes are specially designed supplements that help ensure optimal intake of essential nutrients for both the mother and the developing fetus. Standard multivitamins designed for the general population differ from prenatal ones mainly in the content of key substances. The composition of prenatal multivitamins is carefully adapted to the specific and increased nutritional needs of women planning pregnancy. During pregnancy, the female body undergoes massive changes, and the demand for certain vitamins and minerals increases. A regular, even balanced, diet may not reliably meet these increased needs.
Ideally, prenatal vitamins should be taken at least three months before the planned conception. Early supplementation gives the mother’s body time to build up sufficient stores of key nutrients necessary for a healthy pregnancy.
Key nutrients in Fertility Essentials and their roles
The Fertility Essentials multivitamin complex is designed to provide a balanced ratio of necessary nutrients, taking into account the synergistic relationships between individual active ingredients. Many nutrients do not work in isolation but influence and support each other’s absorption and function. For example, folic acid and vitamin B12 are inseparable partners that work together in vital fetal development processes, including DNA formation and red blood cell production.
Fertility Essentials emphasizes not only composition but also the form of each nutrient. The form determines absorption, bioavailability, and overall effectiveness—for both the expectant mother and the developing fetus.
Folate (Folic Acid): The foundation for healthy nervous system development
Folic acid is absolutely essential for proper cell division, the creation and repair of genetic material, embryonic tissue growth, and blood formation. Its most important role is the prevention of neural tube defects. Adequate folic acid intake can also reduce the risk of other birth defects, such as heart or craniofacial defects (like cleft lip and palate), and lower the risk of miscarriage.
To use folic acid effectively, the body must first convert it into its active form – methylfolate. However, approximately 40% of the population has a genetic variant of the MTHFR enzyme that significantly reduces the ability to utilize synthetic folic acid. That’s why Fertility Essentials includes 400 mcg of patented bioactive folate Quatrefolic®, ensuring sufficient intake of this key nutrient in a form that’s optimally usable even for individuals with MTHFR mutations.
Vitamin B12: Folate’s partner
Vitamin B12 works closely with folate in many metabolic processes, including cell division, DNA synthesis, nervous system development, and anemia prevention. It is also important for proper neural tube closure. Adequate intake is especially critical for women following a vegetarian or vegan diet, as vitamin B12 occurs almost exclusively in animal products.
Some women have genetic variations (e.g., reduced function of the MTR/MTRR enzymes) that prevent effective conversion of the inactive form of vitamin B12. Like folate, vitamin B12 should be taken in its active form. Fertility Essentials contains 5 mcg of the patented bioactive vitamin B12, MecobalActive®, ensuring efficient absorption and utilization.
Iodine: For a healthy brain and thyroid
Iodine is a key element for proper thyroid hormone production. These hormones are essential for normal brain and nervous system development in the fetus, starting from the earliest stages of pregnancy. The recommended daily iodine intake for women planning pregnancy is 150 µg. Fertility Essentials provides this functional dose of natural iodine sourced from sustainably harvested Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed.
Choline: brain support, memory, and cellular nutrition
Choline is essential for the development of the fetal brain and nervous system. Similar to folate, choline helps prevent developmental defects by influencing DNA methylation. Choline is also a component of phosphatidylcholine, a fundamental building block of cell membranes. Fertility Essentials contains a highly pure and stable form – choline bitartrate, which ensures excellent bioavailability and effective utilization in the body.
Vitamin D3 + K2: a duo for strong bones and immunity
Vitamins D3 and K2 are essential for the healthy development of fetal bones and teeth. Fertility Essentials contains a foundational dose of 1000 IU of vitamin D3 and 75 mcg of vitamin K2-MK7. Vitamin D plays a key role in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from food, while vitamin K2 helps incorporate absorbed calcium into bones and teeth.
Vitamin D also supports the proper function of the immune system of both the mother and the baby. Some studies show that sufficient vitamin D levels may reduce the risk of pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or preterm birth.
Other key nutrients that should not be missing from a future mother’s diet
Iron: immunity and energy for mother and baby
During pregnancy, the mother’s blood volume significantly increases, which leads to a higher need for iron to produce new red blood cells. Unfortunately, anemia is one of the most common complications during pregnancy, with a prevalence in developed countries estimated at around 20%. Iron deficiency during pregnancy is associated with reduced immunity, poorer mental well-being, increased risk of preterm birth, and low birth weight.
Meeting the increased iron requirement through diet alone can be difficult for many women, which is why supplementation is often necessary in case of confirmed deficiency. Iron in the form of ferrous bisglycinate ensures high absorption and excellent tolerance without side effects such as constipation, nausea, or stomach upset.
Omega-3: supporting hormonal balance and healthy brain and eye development
Omega-3 fatty acids play a vital role in the preconception period by supporting hormonal balance and healthy ovulation. Studies show that sufficient intake of omega-3 fatty acids can positively influence egg development and support early embryo implantation.
Of the omega-3 fatty acids, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is particularly crucial for fetal development, being essential for healthy brain and vision development. DHA is a key component of cell membranes and a structural fatty acid in the brain and retina. Overall, omega-3s support heart and vascular health and may help reduce the risk of preterm birth.
Ensuring sufficient omega-3 intake through diet alone is not always easy in our geographical conditions, which is why high-quality supplementation is a suitable preventive strategy.
Magnesium: for muscles, nerves, and a smooth pregnancy
Magnesium acts as a cofactor in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, contributing to regulation of the menstrual cycle, influencing sex hormone synthesis, and supporting healthy cell division. It also plays a role in modulating the stress response, which can positively affect fertility. During pregnancy, adequate magnesium intake may help reduce the risk of muscle cramps, uterine contractions, and preeclampsia.
Conclusion
The investment in a child’s future health begins with preparation for pregnancy, of which prenatal vitamins are an integral part. The specially formulated Fertility Essentials complex helps the mother’s body prepare for pregnancy and build sufficient stores of essential nutrients. However, such supplementation should not be seen in isolation but as part of a broader preconception care approach that includes a high-quality, diverse and balanced diet, appropriate physical activity, and overall lifestyle adjustments.
Key takeaways
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Preconception nutrition is critical: The health and nutrition of the mother before conception have a far-reaching impact on fertility, pregnancy progression, and the lifelong health of the child.
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Starting supplementation early is essential: The most critical period for some congenital defects occurs very early after conception, often before the woman even knows she’s pregnant. That’s why it’s recommended to begin prenatal vitamins at least 3 months before planned conception.
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Prenatal multivitamin complex Fertility Essentials and its benefits: Fertility Essentials is specifically designed for women planning pregnancy. It provides essential nutrients in optimal amounts and bioavailable forms, supporting the healthy growth and development of the fetus and a smooth pregnancy.
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Nutrient deficiency poses risks: Lack of key vitamins and minerals can negatively affect the mother’s health (e.g. anemia, osteoporosis) and the fetus (e.g. birth defects, developmental issues, low birth weight, preterm birth).
Sources:
Wei, S. Q., Qi, H. P., Luo, Z. C., & Fraser, W. D. (2013). Maternal vitamin D status and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. *The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine*, 26(9), 889–899.
Jung J, et al. Effects of hemoglobin levels during pregnancy on adverse maternal and infant outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. *Ann N Y Acad Sci*. 2019;1450(1):69-82
Nordgren TM, Lyden E, Anderson-Berry A, Hanson C. Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake of Pregnant Women and Women of Childbearing Age in the United States: Potential for Deficiency? *Nutrients*. 2017 Feb 26;9(3):197.
Middleton P, Gomersall JC, Gould JF, Shepherd E, Olsen SF, Makrides M. Omega-3 fatty acid addition during pregnancy. *Cochrane Database Syst Rev*. 2018 Nov 15;11(11):CD003402.
