Here's Exactly When You Should Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins Before Trying to Conceive

When planning for a baby, you probably do a ton of research about the early steps you need to take to maximize your chances at getting pregnant. From exercising to eating nutritious food to staring acupuncture, it's totally normal to want your body to be healthy and strong for your future baby. And one thing many women do to ensure this is by taking prenatal vitamins. But exactly when should you start taking them?

POPSUGAR spoke with Dr. Zaher Merhi, director of Research and Development at IVF Technologies at New Hope, and he recommended that prenatal vitamins should be taken "at least one month before getting pregnant." The CDC, or Center for Disease Control and Prevention, recommends this time frame as well. Dr. Zaher explained that one of the reasons it's important to take your prenatal vitamins before actually getting pregnant is because of the folic acid component within the vitamin: "Folic acid lowers the chances of having a Neural Tube Defect — which can create several problems with the brain and spine of the unborn baby." So getting the vitamin in your system for at least one month prior to getting pregnant is vital.

Just remember to talk to your doctor, and find a prenatal vitamin that works for you. By giving your body the nutrients it needs to conceive, you're also giving your baby the same benefits, too.