A pregnant woman and her developing child need a special formula of vitamins to keep both the mother and child nutritionally healthy. Prenatal vitamins and minerals are designed to deliver the appropriate nutrition to the pair. In particular, prenatal supplements have folic acid, iron and calcium – all of which are of particular importance to a pregnant woman. Folic acid has been shown to decrease the risk of birth defects. An unborn child is dependent upon getting its nutrition from its mother, and if enough calcium is not in the system, the fetus may leach calcium from the mother’s bones, causing a drop in bone density. Iron is important for blood circulation and delivery of oxygen both in the mother and the child.