Vitamins.

[Le bonheur*]

My friend is pregnant and is around 6/7 weeks. Not sure but she told me quite recently so she's not that far along. She pretty much ignores the fact that she needs to get to the doctor to confirm it and to start vitamins and scans and all that fun stuff. She doesn't think it's important. My question is... How essential is it for a pregnant woman to take prenatal vitamins?

Thanks for the responses in advance. And sorry for so many posts lately.

[Aletheia*]

Hey Brittany,

Your friend is probably still in denial to the fact that she's pregnant. If she hasn't told anyone, such as family or the babies father, this is probably why she isn't in a big hurry to get to the doctor. However, you need to stress the fact that prenatal vitamins are EXTREMELY essential to the pregnancy. It helps with the growth of the baby. Gives them nutrients that the mother's can't give them (for the most part). She needs to see a doctor right away. She doesn't need to have a prescription to get prenatal's though. She can buy them over the counter at a pharmacy, but that doesn't make the doctor's visits less essential. She needs to go.

[Angel]

It's really important for her to know what is going on with her pregnancy. Whether she's in denial or refusing treatment for whatever reason, it's irresponsible of her when treatment is so widely available these days. Prenatal vitamins are an essential part of a pregnant woman's routine. Perhaps you should give her some information to look at about the importance of prenatal care. This lays the information out very clearly. There are lots of articles out there that may be able to show her just how important looking after herself and her baby is during pregnancy!

[PutYourHeartsUp]

Honestly, they're not so important that if you don't take them your baby is 100% going to come out with issues. Some people aren't aware they're pregnant at all until it's way later, and women didn't used to take them. HOWEVER, it is exceptionally irresponsible to know you're pregnant and ignore proper care including vitamins. The baby COULD come out with health issues and such without them. So for someone that knows they're pregnant, they're pretty important. It's also important for her to see a doctor to make sure the pregnancy is going like it should.

[Jennifer]

From someone who has lost their baby becasue of not taking the proper viatamins (I took vitamins) but my body was lacking the folic acid. Since you are her friend I'm sure that you'd know the way to let her know that not getting the information can cause the baby it's life. My baby had a NTD, which caused his skull bone from not growing. I know she's in denial but it's important to get the baby checked out.