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Smarty Pants Prenatal Formula
Gummy vitamins aren’t just for kids. They’re for pregnant women too, especially when they’re packing 18 essential vitamins that all play a role in fetal development. These gummies in particular pack 290 mcg of iodine, which Dr. Woodus says is essential for healthy brain development. Since the recommended intake of it is 220 mcg, these vitamins can help you meet your daily requirement. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend taking iodine while breastfeeding as iodine deficiencies may put infants at risk of associated cognitive and psychomotor impairments.
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
- Exercise if your doctor says its safe for you
- Take a stool softener with your doctors OK
Read Also: How To Know What Vitamins You Need
Is It Necessary To Take A Prenatal Supplement
Contrary to popular opinion, it is unnecessary to use prenatal vitamins, but you cant make this decision on your own. Suppose a doctor feels that your health status is up to the mark, and you can obtain all your dietary requirements such as vitamin A, vitamin D3, DHA, folic acid, vitamin b12, folate, and vitamin k2 from diet alone. In that case, you are good to go without a vitamin supplement. Some women dont even need folate and iron supplements too.
On the other side, some women like to stick to the regular multivitamin pills. Although there are no side effects of any multivitamin that you are using, please discuss it with your doctor. After a complete evaluation, your OB & Gyn can predict if you need any essential vitamins or not.
How To Choose A Dha Supplement
Picking a high-quality prenatal DHA is important low-quality, unverified products can contain toxins and contaminants. Most advanced refining systems remove almost all of these harmful compounds.
Therefore, it is important to pick products with packaging that indicates a reputable third-party organization or lab has verified the products quality and purity in particles per trillion levels.
Many trustworthy organizations set standards that assess the quality and purity of fish oil products, such as the following:
- Council for Responsible Nutrition
- European Pharmacopoeia
- Global organization for EPA & DHA omega-3s
Be wary of products stated to exceed the standard maximum allowances of harmful heavy metals, toxins, and oxidation set by one or more of these organizations.
It is also a good idea to pick products proven in clinical trials to be safe and effective. A person can find this information on the pamphlet or packaging that comes with the supplement or the manufacturers website.
People who follow vegetarian diets, have a seafood allergy, or do not wish to eat or buy seafood can consume products containing DHA that derives from types of algae or seaweed. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish actually come from microalgae, which accumulate in the tissues of fish that eat them.
Many products claim to contain vegetable sources of DHA.
- king mackerel
- orange roughy
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Pink Stork Best Liquid Prenatal Vitamins
Brand Overview
If taking a tablet causes you to gag, a liquid prenatal supplement may be right for you. It can be consumed by itself, or it can be added to your drink. Because the taste is relatively strong on its own, some people like to combine it with juice.
It provides all of the essential nutrients for a healthy pregnancy in a liquid you can put directly into your favorite drink.
Pink Storks Liquid Prenatal Vitamin delivers 100% or higher of the daily requirement of several essential nutrients. It is gluten-free, non-GMO, and devoid of animal products, and the brand also claims its 18mg of iron is non-constipating.
This exceptionally nutritious formula contains D vitamins to support bone health, 100% RDAs of vitamins A, C, D, E, and B vitamins, and biotin, which promotes the wellbeing of skin cells, nails, and hair. Pink Stork Liquid Prenatal Vitamins also include iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc, which are essential elements for a successful pregnancy.
In addition, these prenatal vitamins may encourage a healthy respiratory system and may be a powerful antioxidant to support a woman when trying to have a baby, throughout pregnancy, and while breastfeeding.
Features
- Ease of Use
This prenatal supplement is straightforward to use, as only one tablespoon per day in the morning is required. You can consume the tablespoon on its own or mix it into your favorite beverage.
- Taste
Pros
- Has a metallic aftertaste
Customer Experience
Nature Made Best Vitamins With Dha
Brand Overview
Nature Made is the brand that people trust for their daily vitamins, and it is available in nearly every grocery shop. This is why they have a large number of clients who purchase their health goods from them. Artificial colors and flavors, preservatives, yeast, and gluten are not included in the tablets.
Nature Mades top-quality standards apply to all parts of its company, from obtaining ingredients via product manufacture, packing, and shipping, to product sale and after-service support.
Nature Made Prenatal Multivitamin + DHA has beneficial ingredients for both mother and child. The most significant part about this prenatal vitamin is its high concentration of DHA, a fatty acid essential for embryonic brain development.
It contains 200mg of DHA and essential vitamins and minerals for daily nutritional support throughout pregnancy, and it also includes folic acid and iron. It has been clinically proven to improve nutrient absorption, and it delivers a complete vitamin profile that includes all eight B vitamins, vitamin C, and fat-soluble vitamins .
Features
- High-Quality Ingredients
It contains 800mcg of folic acid, which is the recommended daily allowance. That is an excellent sum for both you and your child. It is also high in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, biotin, B12, C, D, E, K, iron, and zinc.
- Easy to Use
Pros
- Several types of vitamins present
Cons
- Fishy smell
Customer Experience
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Faqs About Prenatal Vitamins
Isnt good nutrition good enough?
As we said above, prenatal supplements are in no way a replacement for a healthy diet and many of the essential nutrients pregnant or lactating women need canand should beprimarily ingested through dietary means.
But these supplements still play an essential role in the prenatal process for a couple of reasons: first, because its difficult to get the required amounts for each nutrient solely through food and second, because enough nutrients have to reach at least two targetsmom and babywhich makes getting the required quantities even more important.
Can I take more than the recommended amount of folic acid?
Folic acid is a water-soluble nutrient, meaning that…well, youll pee out whatever excess you consume.
In theory, this means there isnt any harm to consuming more than the established RDAs of folic acid. However, an abundance of folic acid can mask B12-deficiency by hiding its symptoms, and this can be increasingly harmful in the long run. For this reason health organizations like the World Health Organization, advise against taking more than the established Upper Intake levels of folic acid, which is 1000 mcg a day.
Are prescriptions prenatal vitamins superior to over-the-counter supplements?
What Prenatal Vitamins Do You Need
When growing a baby, there are few essential vitamins and minerals your body needs to ensure proper development and make sure your body is running optimally. There are many prenatal vitamins you can buy, but they should all include the same general ingredients:
- Folate or folic acid
- Magnesium
- Choline
Most prenatal vitamin formulas include all of the above and more, but make sure to check the ingredient label. Below are five of the best prenatal vitamins for every budget. We update this list periodically.
Read Also: Can I Take Prenatal Vitamins To Help Get Pregnant
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 .
What Is The Distinction Between Prenatal Vitamins And Multivitamins
Some common vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, B vitamins, and zinc, may be found in both prenatal vitamins and womens multivitamins. Prenatals, on the other hand, may contain ingredients such as folic acid, iodine, and DHA recommended by experts for pregnant or intending to become pregnant women. Furthermore, some prenatal vitamins cut out the iron to be gentler on your tummy, which is beneficial if you feel nauseated.
Each womens multivitamin on the market has a unique composition with varying quantities of a range of components. So, if you are unsure about which prenatal vitamin and multivitamin is best for you, consult your doctor. Then, examine the labeling of your everyday multivitamin and prenatal vitamins, and select the one that provides the vitamins your doctor advises.
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Best Overall: Innate Response Baby & Me Multivitamin
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Has a distinct odor/taste
Pure Encapsulations products are made with premium ingredients sourced from trusted suppliers and guided by their nutritional experts The brand takes extra care in testing to verify each product’s potency and purity. This product, in particular, is great for those with allergies or intolerances, as it’s free of wheat, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, gluten, artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners, coatings and shellacs, GMOs, and unnecessary binders, fillers, and preservatives.
Type: Capsule | Age Range: Adult 18+ | Dosage: 2 capsules/day | Certified: Non-GMO, gluten-free
Why Should I Take Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are like a nutrition safety net that helps you maintain the vitamins and minerals your body needs to grow a healthy baby and sustain your pregnancy. They work best when supported .
The most noted example of the benefits of taking prenatal vitamins is the fact that they help you get more folic acid. When taken before pregnancy, prenatal vitamins with folic acid can help drastically reduce the incidence of neural tube defects like spina bifida and anencephaly.
Other vitamins and minerals of importance in pregnancy include iron, calcium, vitamin D, DHA, and iodine. Your body needs twice as much iron as usual during pregnancy to build red cells to bring oxygen to the growing baby. You need 1000 milligrams of calcium per day as your baby develops its bones, teeth, and muscles. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. Iodine is needed for the development of your baby’s brain and nervous system.
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What To Know About Prenatal Vitamins:
- Iron can be constipating
- If you cant stomach vitamins you can focus on eating low mercury cooked fish, spinach, lentils and overall a diet based on fruits and vegetables.
- Most American diets cannot fully supplement both the pregnant parent and the developing fetus with the adequate nutrition they both need. That being said, if you didnt know you were pregnant, couldnt afford or stomach prenatals or just didnt realize they were important, dont stress!
- Do what you can, when you can. Most babies are born perfectly healthy either way. It doesnt matter so much when you take it.
- Its never too early to start taking it! If you know you want to get pregnant in a year it cant hurt to get your body primed for that little embryo to come.
Mama Bird Prenatal Multivitamin
These vitamins contain “methylated folate”a pretty buzzy word in the prenatal vitamin world. Folate is one of the most important vitamins in prenatal pills, but some women have a genetic condition that makes it hard for their bodies to convert the folic acid in most prenatals to the active form the body can use, Wright explains.
But there’s a catch: You won’t know if you have the condition unless you have genetic testing done. So if you want to be super-safe and cover all your bases, then a methylated version of folate might be worth the money. Still, she emphasizes that for the majority of women, the regular variety is just fine.
Recommended Reading: What Vitamins Does A Woman Over 50 Need
One A Day Most Advanced Multivitamin
Brand Overview
One A Day is the most well-known name of vitamin supplements on the market, and it is a good option. It is not fancy, but it gets the job done at a reasonable price. Best of all, it has been verified by an independent lab to guarantee it includes exactly what it promises.
Its prenatal supplement comprises one choline tablet and one soft gel. It is a comprehensive multivitamin specifically designed with essential elements such as folic acid, DHA, and iron for females before, during, and after pregnancy to provide nutritional assistance. It also contains no sweeteners, flavors, wheat, or dairy.
Vitamins and minerals are used to supplement elements that are not obtained from the diet. They are often used to address vitamin and mineral imbalances caused by sickness, pregnancy, poor diet, digestive problems, certain medicines, and other illnesses.
The Womens Prenatal 1 formula from One A Day provides essential nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E, thiamin, niacin, B6, B12, iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and other minerals. This multivitamins extra calcium and magnesium boost bone strength, providing additional assistance when women enter menopause.
Features
- Muscle Health and Energy Levels
- Eat a High-Quality Diet
Pros
- May temporarily cause an upset stomach
Customer Experience
Q When Should One Begin Taking Prenatal Vitamins
Check with your doctor regarding starting prenatal vitamins as quickly as you discontinue birth control. Because the first several weeks of pregnancy are essential for fetus growth and wellbeing, it is a good idea to begin taking folic acid at least 30 days before you start trying to conceive. You should take prenatal vitamins for the duration of your pregnancy.
Recommended Reading: Can Prenatal Vitamins Cause Constipation
What Are The Benefits Of Taking Prenatal Vitamins
Aside from aiding in your baby’s growth, studies have shown that particular supplements can lower the risk of certain conditions for both you and your baby. “Prenatal vitamins can help decrease your risk of nausea, birth defects, and preterm birth. These benefits are optimized when prenatal vitamins are started prior to conception,” says Dr. Woodus.
Supplemental folate , in particular, is very important. It’s been shown to reduce neural tube defects in babies, which are conditions involving the baby’s brain and spine. Folic acid can also reduce the risk of autism spectrum disorders, research shows. When prenatal vitamins are taken before conception or during early pregnancy, the risk of having a child with autism decreases even in genetically susceptible mothers and children, a study in the Journal of Epidemiology found.
Directions To Use Prenatal Pills
Depending upon what is your dietary requirement, you can search for specific brands that meet these requirements. Some of the prenatal supplements are to be used once a day, and some can be used several times per day.
All of these prenatal vitamin products come with complete user instructions mentioned on its label. Make sure to give it a reading before using them. Take these supplements with water only, and in no case, take them with alcohol or other medicines. For more details on how to use prenatal vitamins, you may contact your doctor.
Also Check: What Does Vitamin D Do To You
Nature Made Prenatal Multi
A good daily prenatal vitamin should contain the above nutrients, but it should also have at least 200 mg of DHA, an omega 3 fatty acid commonly found in fish. Some experts believe supplementing zinc and magnesium can reduce risks of complications during pregnancy. All of these ingredients can be found in Nature Made’s Prenatal Multi Plus DHA softgels, which you can buy at most grocery and drug stores at an affordable price.
Make Sure You Have Folate
According to Lathon, folate, which is a B vitamin, is another highly essential supplement required during pregnancy to prevent birth abnormalities.
However, most, if not all, prenatal vitamins include folate or folic acid. Just double-check the list of ingredients in your preferred prenatal and talk with your doctor about how many mg you should be getting, which is usually around 400 to 500 milligrams in your capsule.
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