Most women start a prenatal when they get a positive test.
By then, some of the most critical early development has already taken place, and the nutrient stores that support it were either there or they weren't.
Earlier than you think
The neural tube closes around day 28. Brain and spinal cord, done, usually before a test has even been taken.
Folate has to already be there. You can't backfill it after the fact. And most nutrients take weeks to months to build up to levels that actually do anything, which is why starting well before you're actively trying matters.
Eggs start maturing around three months before ovulation too. So the three to six months before you start trying isn't just a buffer. It's when the groundwork actually gets laid.
One supplement across the whole journey
The simplest approach is finding a prenatal you can take consistently from the start, before trying, during pregnancy, and after birth, rather than swapping products at each stage.
Not everyone needs the same extras. But having a solid foundation throughout means you're not reassessing from scratch every few months.
Nutritional demands don't peak and stop after the first trimester. Organ development, bone formation, brain growth. It keeps going. Some requirements actually go up in the third trimester and into breastfeeding, not down.
Postpartum
A lot of women stop supplementing after birth. I'd push back on that.
Several key nutrients, choline, iodine, vitamin D, pass directly through breast milk. The recommended intake for some of them is higher during breastfeeding than during pregnancy. Your baby is still getting what you're giving it, and your own recovery is happening at the same time.
If you're not breastfeeding, your body still needs time to rebuild after birth. Continuing for a few months postpartum is worth it regardless.
For him too
Sperm takes about 74 days to develop. What's available nutritionally during that process affects quality, DNA and motility. If you're both starting three months out, you're covering the full picture.
This is general information only. If you have specific health conditions or are on medication, please speak with your GP about your individual supplementation needs.
