Supplements...to be Sure
Begin (or continue) taking either a one-a-day type multivitamin or a prenatal vitamin containing folic acid. During the earliest weeks of pregnancy, before you may even realize you’re pregnant, the embryo’s neural tubes (the earliest version of the brain and spinal column) develop. Taking a supplement that contains folic acid will reduce the chance of defects. “Take a vitamin with at least one milligram of folic acid,” recommends Dr. Wilbois. What about herbs and other supplements that claim to boost fertility? The jury is still out on this one, but in 2004 a team of researchers at Stanford University in California found that women who took a supplement called FertilityBlend, which contains chasteberry, green tea extract, and L-arginine (an amino acid) plus a mix of vitamins and minerals, were more likely to get pregnant than women who didn’t. The researchers found that the chasteberry (also called vitex) helped improve ovulation and restore hormonal balance. Another supplement, FertilAid, also contains chasteberry. More studies are needed to confirm the findings. (Note: If you are using fertility drugs you should not take these supplements.)
