Answer
Current recommendations are to begin taking prenatal vitamins three months prior to conception. This is really to optimize folic acid stores before the fetus's neural development begins to prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida.
Although lots of regular multi-vitamins have adequate folic acid, prenatal vitamins have fewer ingredients and not more than 100% of RDA of anything. A few vitamins such as Vitamin A can harm the baby if taken in excessive quantities. We recommend prenantals because we know they will have enough of the good stuff and not too much of the bad.
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