One of the first things a physician will prescribe to a woman who is expecting a child will be prenatal vitamins. Some women think that these vitamins will take care of all of their nutritional needs while they are pregnant and are mystified when one of their clinical tests show that they are suffering from anemia. These women might feel that modern science has let them down and they must figure out how to fix the problem without doing any damage to the child they are carrying.

While taking vitamins and supplements while pregnant will bolster a woman's body to handle the added nutritional requirements of a baby, they are in no way meant to replace the nutritional values that come from a well-balanced diet plan. A woman should eat fruits and vegetables throughout her pregnancy because these foods are full of natural vitamins that her body will use throughout the day.

A woman can use the natural foods in these two food groups to reduce the amount of weight that is gained during a pregnancy. Fruits and vegetables are comfort foods that can be taken along on trips to quell hunger pains until a regular meal is served. A woman will usually take one prenatal vitamin for each day that she is pregnant, and those that choose to nurse their babies will continue taking the prenatal vitamins for months. If taken in moderation, there are no ill side effects to taking any type of vitamin or supplement while pregnant.

Some women think that by taking more than one prenatal vitamin a day they are offering their child an additional source of nutrition. Some of the vitamins are stored in the body and can cause harm if taken incorrectly. Other vitamins, such as vitamin C need to be replenished on a daily basis and this vitamin can be introduced into the body through orange juice or some other form of citrus fruit.

Some physicians might write a prescription for supplements like iron if a woman shows signs of anemia. This vitamin will prove very useful to a woman who is expecting a child because it will fortify her blood with nutrients that will give her more energy. The side effects of taking this vitamin at any time in life is that it will usually cause a person to suffer from irregularity and then a stool softener will be needed on a day-to-day basis.