Prenatal Vitamins: Risks & Safety Concerns for Expectant Mothers

Prenatal vitamins, in general, are necessary for a healthy pregnancy. Just like any medication or supplement, however, great care in selection is necessary to protect the growing fetus.

Vitamin A

• Vitamin A can cause birth defects if taken in excess, says Comparing-Vitamin-Supplements.com. More than 10,000 IU is considered excessive and potentially dangerous.

Deficiencies

• Many supplements, including prenatal supplements, do not contain the amount of nutrients indicated on the label, according to the FDA. Since the growing fetus needs extra amounts of certain vitamins, this is potentially dangerous.

Extra supplements

• Some women feel they need even more iron or folic acid than what is found in prenatal vitamins. Taking additional supplements with prenatal vitamins could lead to dangerous overdose, according to AmericanPregnancy.Org.

Fat soluble vitamins

• Overdosing on fat soluble vitamins like A, D, K, and E is dangerous because they stay in the body and release toxins continuously until they are dissolved.

Water Soluble vitamins

• Water soluble vitamins like B and C are less dangerous when taken in large doses because the body quickly dissolves them and excretes them through urine. They can create irritation in the digestive system, however, according to AmericanPregnancy.Org.