What Are Some Good Prenatal Vitamins

Garden Of Life Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal Multivitamin

Ingredients: Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal is a diverse supplement that keeps you healthy during your pregnancy. The natural fruit extracts give you the minerals you need to keep your body healthy. Additional ingredients include vitamins A, C, E, D, K and B, folate, biotin and calcium.

What we like: Vitamin Code multivitamins are made with organic raw ingredients and 23 organically grown fruits and vegetables. Additionally, Vitamin Code products have a charitable component a portion of the proceeds from each bottle purchased goes to Vitamin Angels. Many women who left reviews on LuckyVitamin like the ease of digestion and mentioned that they noticed an improvement in their overall well-being.

What to consider: A drawback to this vitamin is that the pills are on the larger side and a serving size is three pills per day, which can be a lot for some people.

What Doctors Say About Taking Prenatal Vitamins When Youre Not Pregnant

Anna Chacon, M.D., F.A.A.D., says not so much: It has long been believed that prenatal vitamins lead to longer, healthier and thicker hair in women, even if they are not pregnant. However, many also forget that during pregnancy, your hair grows faster and thicker as more of your follicles are in the anagen or growth phase. In general, prenatal vitamins wont help significantly unless you are deficient in those specific vitamins which provide nutrition to the hair follicle. This myth arises because pregnant women who take prenatal vitamins usually have thicker, longer and faster-growing hair due to the hormonal changes in pregnancy which cause an increased blood flow to the hair and nails.

While its tempting to try to approximate the coveted baby-glow without taking the step of an actual pregnancy, it seems that the numbers just dont add up.

Sharleen St. Surin-Lord, M.D., F.A.A.D., said, The purpose of prenatal vitamins is to ensure that a growing fetus has all the nutrients it needs to develop well. For example, folic acid is needed for neural tube development. I do not recommend buying prenatal vitamins just to grow hair and nails. Biotin at 5,000 micrograms or 5 milligrams daily is sufficient to strengthen hair and nails and is some benefit. But leave the prenatals to expectant moms.

Try It Yourself: GRO Biotin Gummies for Hair

When Should I Take Prenatal Vitamins

Many women wonder when is the best time to take prenatal vitamins. In most cases, you should start taking them as soon as you begin trying to conceive.

Some doctors even advise taking prenatal vitamins at least three months before TTC to ensure your bodys ready for pregnancy.

Why so far in advance? Well, some birth differences occur within very early pregnancy, including those prevented by folic acid.

Ideally, you should start taking a folic acid supplement around a month before you try to get pregnant.

However, dont panic if you didnt take prenatal vitamins before getting pregnant.

Many women dont take them at this stage and still go on to have perfectly healthy babies. Start taking them as soon as you know youre expecting.

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What Do Prenatal Vitamins Do

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.

Q Can You Take Multivitamins When Pregnant And Prenatal Vitamins When You Are Not

Consider a prenatal vitamin to be a multivitamin that has been specially designed with certain ingredients to assist womens nutritional needs before and throughout pregnancy. The choice between multivitamins and prenatal vitamins comes down to whatever nutrients your doctor advises you to take right now.

If they advise you to increase your folate intake or to take a supplement containing extra folate or folic acid, examine the labels of your multivitamin and prenatal vitamins to ensure you are getting the right quantities.

Consult your primary care physician about your plans to become pregnant, as well as any other food or health problems you may have. They can assist you in locating the best supplement for you, regardless of the brand name on the packaging.

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When Do I Need To Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins

Start taking folic acid at least 1 month before you start trying to get pregnant. The first few weeks of pregnancy are a really important time for fetal health and development. Taking folic acid and other prenatal vitamins can help reduce the risk of some birth defects. Keep taking prenatal vitamins throughout your entire pregnancy.

New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Vitamins

Ingredients: Perfect Prenatal Multivitamins herbal blend contains extracts from nutrient-dense whole food ingredients such as blueberries, oats, blackberries, prunes, rose hip, clove and peppermint. The cruciferous sprouts blend is made up of high-quality extracts from broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage and mustard. Additional vitamins and minerals include vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, biotin and calcium.

What we like: These organic, natural vitamins contain whole food ingredients like blueberries and broccoli. They go through a fermentation process, which provides the benefits of probiotics, making them easy on the stomach. These vitamins are a great go-to for those who are looking for an all-natural, all-in-one prenatal vitamin that contains no sugars, no synthetic fillers and no animal gelatin. Many LuckyVitamin reviewers like the fermented prenatal for first trimester nausea.

What to consider: These vitamins seem to check all of the boxes: the right levels of vitamins and minerals recommended for pregnancy, easy-on-the-stomach formulations and a modest price tag.

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Ritual Prenatal Vitamins Faqs

Will it harm your baby if you dont take prenatal vitamins?

While vitamins are optional and not taking them wont directly harm your baby, studies support the benefits of taking prenatal supplements for both the fetus and the mother.

They can help support the healthy development of the fetus, as well as protect mothers from health problems caused by nutrient deficiencies. This is because a baby will automatically take the essential nutrients it needs from the mother.

For example, if a mother doesnt have enough calcium in her diet, the baby will then take calcium from the mothers bones. This could weaken them or increase her risk of osteoporosis later in life.

Are Ritual vitamins FDA approved?

The FDA does not actually approve dietary supplements in general. Since dietary supplements remain unregulated, its important to find a vitamin brand that is transparent and science-backed, which Ritual is.

What kind of testing is done to Ritual Prenatal Vitamins?

An in-house team of certified scientists design the clinical trials for Ritual. They then hold the trials at a university-backed clinic. The process allows Ritual to better explain how the ingredients work and why they are included in their prenatal vitamins.

Are Ritual Prenatal Vitamins Worth the Hype?

Ritual Prenatal vitamins are definitely worth the hype because they are one of the only brands to openly disclose the details of every ingredient that goes into their product.

How To Take Prenatal Vitamins

Always follow the instructions provided on the vitamin bottle to gain the maximum benefits. Some recommend taking the vitamins with food, and others recommend taking them with water on an empty stomach. If you feel nauseous from your prenatal vitamin, we suggest taking them before bed rather than in the morning.

Talk to your doctor or midwife about which prenatal vitamin might be your best option. While most women can find a prenatal vitamin that is easy to digest, some women have some side effects. Some common side effects can include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or upset stomach. Often these side effects are temporary but talk to your doctor or midwife if you experience any.

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When Should You Stop Taking Prenatal Vitamins

King says if youre not breastfeeding your child, its okay to switch back to a daily multivitamin after birth.

If youre breastfeeding, its encouraged to continue taking prenatal vitamins until you stop breastfeeding to keep taking in nutrients that provide benefits for both you and your baby.

But, King adds, if you choose to switch back to your daily multivitamin while breastfeeding, thats okay, too. You want to make sure youre optimizing your nutrition since youre providing those nutrients to the baby. As long as youre getting the appropriate amount of those vitamins and nutrients, thats whats most important.

Essential Nutrients To Look For

With a nutritious diet, you should already be getting a lot of the vitamins and minerals necessary during pregnancywhich means that you shouldnt have to depend on your prenatal vitamin to provide 100 percent of the daily recommended allowance for these nutrients. Prenatal vitamins also arent legally required to provide a minimum level of those nutrients either, since they arent regulated by the FDA. The doses may vary, but the key ingredients wont vary drastically, Twogood says.

So what should the best prenatal vitamins include? The most important nutrient in a prenatal vitamin, according to Twogood, is folic acid, which has been shown to dramatically decrease the risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida. Make sure the label includes folic acid as well as these other key nutrients. Aim for the minimum levels listed here, but if your vitamin falls short, get the rest from your diet.

Folic acid: Look for a minimum of 400 micrograms, though Twogood recommends a slightly higher dose of 800 micrograms or 1 milligram for overweight or obese patients.

Iron: Iron helps carry oxygen to your organs and tissues, and during pregnancy you need an extra dose for a total of 27 milligrams a day, which is present in most prenatal vitamins, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists .

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Q Is It Safe To Use Prenatal Vitamins Throughout Pregnancy

Prenatal vitamins are generally considered to be safe. However, one must always seek doctors to provide medical advice before beginning a new supplement regimen. Some pills may contain additives such as herbs or botanicals that are not suitable for everyone. However, keep in mind that short ingredient lists are likely to be the best during pregnancy.

What Are Prenatal Vitamins Exactly And Why Do They Matter

Prenatal vitamins are a multivitamin specifically formulated for someone who is pregnant or trying to have a baby, explains Katharine O’Connell White, MD, an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Boston University and the author of Your Guide to Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss. They have specific amounts of nutrients and minerals that are safe for pregnant people. For example, certain ones need to be taken in lower doses when pregnant because consuming too much can harm the developing fetus, Dr. White explains.

On the other hand, sometimes prenatals will have more of certain nutrients, such as folic acid, which prevents some birth defects, or iron, which prevents anemia, a common symptom during pregnancy.

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Best Time To Take B Vitamins

The best time to take B vitamins is after you wake up. Theres also some data suggesting that taking vitamin B in the afternoon can affect your sleep. To avoid a B-complex affecting your sleep, you should take your B vitamins in the morning, preferably with a meal to maximize their absorption. Its safe to take several B vitamins all at once.

Do I Need To Take A Prenatal Vitamin

If youre pregnant, definitely. Pregnancy puts a lot of demands on your body, including increased needs of certain vitamins and minerals. Prenatals are specifically designed with this in mind, and may even help to reduce your babys risk of developmental issues for a fetus or health concerns.

Additionally, prenatals are perf for pre- and post-pregnancy support.

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How Do I Choose A Prenatal Vitamin

First, look at whats in it. Ideally, choose a prenatal vitamin that contains micronutrients that are important to promote fetal development and maternal health, says Dr. Samuel. The most famously important of these is folic acid, which reduces the risk of neural tube defects . A 2018 meta-analysis in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics found that taking folate or folic acid supplements during pregnancy might also lower the risk of preeclampsia, a condition of abnormally high blood pressure which can be risky for the parent and fetus.

The food-based version of folic acid is folate, but supplementation is key during pregnancy because it can be difficult to get enough folate through food. Luckily, youd be hard-pressed to find a prenatal that isnt rich in this nutrient.

Prenatal vitamins with iron are also super important, as iron promotes the health and development of the placenta. You also want ones that are easy on the GI system and affordable, says Dr. Samuel, since youll be taking these every day for at least nine months.

Beyond that? I look specifically for prenatals that contain vitamins A, B, C, D, E, zinc, and iodine, says Dr. Samuel. Get one that contains those, folate, and DHA , and youll be in great shape for your reproductive life.

Is It Safe To Take Prenatal Vitamins If Youre Not Pregnant

Some women are tempted to take prenatal vitamins when theyre not pregnant, often due to unproven claims of stronger nails and thicker, glossier hair.

However, this isnt usually a good idea. High levels of certain nutrients can cause unpleasant symptoms and side effects, and in some cases, can be very harmful. For instance, iron levels in prenatal vitamins can cause constipation and nausea in non-pregnant women.

Remember: Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated for pregnant women or those trying to get pregnant, as well as breastfeeding mamas .

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What Type Of Prenatal Vitamins Is Best

Vitamins come in multiple forms: pill, soft-gel capsule and gummies. For some, swallowing and holding down a pill can be difficult especially when youre queasy due to morning sickness. If thats your situation, try a soft-gel capsule or a gummy vitamin. Just remember that gummy vitamins do not contain iron, so you may want an extra iron supplement for that.

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Prenatal Vitamin Side Effects

Some prenatal vitamins can cause nausea in an already nauseated pregnant woman. If that happens to you, talk to your health care provider. They may be able to prescribe a different kind of prenatal vitamin that you dont have to swallow whole. Options include:

• Chewables
• Liquids

The iron in prenatal vitamins may also make you constipated. If youre constipated it can help to:

• Eat a high-fiber diet

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Are There Any Side Effects To Taking Prenatal Vitamins

Since the vitamins in these supplements are water-soluble, youll simply pee away any excess. The only nutrient contained in these vitamins that you need to be concerned about taking too much of is iron but when a prenatal vitamin contained iron, its a balanced amount. According to the Mayo Clinic, pregnant women should get 30 mg per day. If youre anemic, discuss with your doctor whether you need to supplement this.

New Chapter Perfect Prenatals

Perfect Prenatal is gluten-free, non-GMO, and made from organic foods. It is strong in vitamin D, K and iron. Unfortunately, it doesnt reach the RDA in zinc, iodine, calcium, magnesium, or surprisingly, folate . It also contains soy, which is a high-allergen food, even when fermented. Still, I know many moms who swear by this prenatal, and I do like how it includes probiotics and a sprout blend.

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How Long Can You Take Prenatal Vitamins When Not Pregnant

Taking prenatal vitamins at least three months before conception is recommended, but one month before pregnancy is fine. If you take prenatal vitamins for a very long time, this could have a negative effect on your health. So, talk to your doctor about how long you should take the prenatal for.

Some negative effects of taking prenatal vitamins include an excessive amount of iron which can cause constipation and nausea, an excessive amount of vitamin A which causes damage to the liver, and a B-12 deficiency.

If you are not pregnant, not trying to conceive, nor breastfeeding, you should avoid prenatal vitamins and instead focus on your diet and get the nutrients you need through various types of food.