Whether you're hoping to get pregnant or are already expecting a little one, proper nutrition is of the utmost importance. That's why medical providers often recommend supplements to women who are or who are planning to become pregnant. CVS carries a diverse assortment of fertility and prenatal care supplement products to help you follow your health care provider's advice. You can easily shop online and have the perfect product shipped discreetly to your home.

When you're pregnant, you need enough vitamins and minerals both to support your own bodily functions and to help your baby grow. As a result, you'll need extra of many of the essential nutrients necessary for a healthy diet. Prenatal vitamins are formulated specifically to help pregnant women avoid vitamin and mineral deficiencies during pregnancy. These products contain balanced blends of essential nutrients and are typically taken once per day. You can choose from a number of forms, including tablets, capsules, softgels, gummies and liquids. Often, health care providers recommend that women continue to take prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding. In some cases, medical professionals may also tell women who are trying to become pregnant to start taking prenatal vitamins ahead of time.

If you're pregnant or trying to conceive, here are some of the best prenatal vitamins to try: 

• Nature Made Prenatal Multivitamin + DHA Softgels: These softgels support your own nutritional needs, plus the development of your growing baby's brain, nervous system, bones and eyes. They contain folic acid, all eight B vitamins, DHA, omega-3 and 19 other nutrients. They're also gluten-free and clinically proven to help you absorb folic acid and iron.

• One A Day Women's Prenatal 1 Multivitamin Softgels: These complete multivitamins contain key nutrients for every stage of pregnancy. Key ingredients include folic acid, omega-3, DHA, calcium, vitamin D and iron. They provide nutritional support from the earliest, most critical stages of pregnancy through breastfeeding.

• Nature's Bounty Optimal Solutions Essential Prenatal Gummies: These gummy prenatal vitamins are packed with high potency vitamins and minerals, including 100% of your daily value of folate and iodine, DHA and EPA to support you through every stage of a healthy pregnancy.  

If you're pregnant or trying to conceive, always speak with your doctor before taking prenatal vitamins. They'll recommend the best type for your unique needs and lifestyle since some women are at a greater risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies than others. The brain and spinal cord form at the earliest stages of pregnancy, so speaking with your doctor and starting supplements early is always the best bet. Many doctors recommend that breastfeeding women continue taking prenatal vitamins as a supplement since they need proper nourishment to make leche. 

It's a widespread rumor that these vitamins encourage hair and nail growth, but these claims are unsubstantiated by health care professionals. In fact, doctors don't recommend taking prenatal vitamins when you're not pregnant. Since they're formulated specifically for the needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women, these vitamins can have adverse effects on those who aren't pregnant or lactating. Taking too much ácido fólico, for instance, can mask vitamin B-12 deficiencies, excess vitamina A can damage the liver and too much hierro often results in constipation, nausea and diarrhea. 

Vitamins and minerals aren't the only nutrients required for proper fetal growth and development. The essential fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is necessary for a baby's brain, nervous system and eyes to grow properly. This nutrient is found primarily in fish; however, many types of fish should be consumed only in moderation during pregnancy due to concerns about mercury contamination. Because of this, health care providers may recommend that pregnant women take a DHA supplement to avoid deficiency. Some prenatal vitamins have DHA added to simplify supplementation.