Although prenatal vitamins have not changed very much over recent years, there is one important nutritional addition.

According to Dr. David Perlmutter, neurologist and author of Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten: Build a Better Brain and Increase IQ by up to 30 Points (Morgan Roads Books, 2006), prenatal and postnatal supplements now include the critical brain fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is important for brain and eye development. Women need at least 220 to 300 mg of DHA.

"Historically, women were able to increase their dietary intake of DHA by eating fish," Dr. Perlmutter says. "Now the EPA warns pregnant women to limit fish consumption because of the toxic risk. Fortunately, DHA is now available as a supplement derived from marine algae, a vegetarian source free of any risk of contamination. You now see prenatal vitamins enriched with this form of DHA."