Should you take Vitamins while Pregnant?

Answer:
Pregnancy is a normal, natural process which has successfully

worked to procreate and extend the human race and other life in every corner of creation. When pregnancy occurs, some physiological changes take place, and even some metabolic fluctuations.

If you thought I was going to go into a long technical explanation of the physiological and metabolic changes that happen to pregnant women, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I am not going to do that. The reason I mention it at all is because my wife told me that is what happened to her with all three of our daughters! I remember it well...! The cravings at 3:00 a.m.; the pitiful morning sickness; the crowding and squashing of internal organs...oh, things changed alright...as would be expected, with such profound and magical goings-on as the re-creation of new life.

According to AmericanPregnancyAssociation website, a number of vitamins (and other nutrients) are essential for maintaining good health of mother and baby during pregnancy. Citing the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, APA describes certain foods which should be increased, including fruits and vegetables, milk, yogurt, cheese, whole-grain breads/cereals, and meat, fish, nuts, poultry, beans and peas. APA explains that the best way to get the right nutrients is to eat the right foods in the right quantities; but supplementing with vitamins is an important and often recommended adjunct to maintaining optimum health during pregnancy.

These are some of the vitamins and nutrients which APA suggests as being important for pregnant women, for the health of both mother and baby:

Vitamin A (and Beta Carotene)
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Thiamin/Vitamin B1
Riboflavin/Vitamin B2
Niacin/Vitamin B3
Pyroxodine/Vitamin B6
Folic Acid/Folate
Calcium
Iron
Protein
Zinc

WebMD.com adds Vitamin B12.
Pregnancy.health-info.org adds Vitamin K, Vitamin F, Magnesium, Potassium.

There may be more suggestions for other supplemental vitamins and nutrients, but most likely the best advice and information will come by consulting with the health professionals for individual and personalized needs.