Feeling a little lost when it comes to choosing the right prenatal vitamin? We have an expert here today to share a few tips for navigating all the choices! You’ll learn which vitamins are the best overall for a healthy pregnancy, which work best for certain needs and what you need to know about taking a prenatal supplement. Huge thanks to Ilona of Reviews.com for sharing all this great info! Check it out!
Related-> Prenatal Screenings: What You Need to Know for a Safe and Healthy Pregnancy
The Reviews.com Guide to Choosing the Right Prenatal Vitamin
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Pregnancy is full of tough decisions, and with a ton of competing opinions and advice, it’s tough to feel like you’re making the right call. That’s why the team at Reviews.com dove deep into the world of prenatal vitamins. They surveyed the ingredients labels of 71 brands, as well as spoke with a panel of doctors to find out what to look for in the best prenatal vitamin. After six weeks of research, here’s what they came up with:
- Best Overall: Deva Vegan Prenatal Multivitamin
Deva includes the most important nutrients that pregnant women need – folic acid, vitamins A and D, and iron, among others. Not only that but at 11 cents a serving, Deva turned out to be the most affordable option – and it’s vegan-friendly!
- Best No-Frills Formula: Pure Encapsulations PreNatal Nutrients
With no additional herbal additives, the Pure Encapsulations formula has everything you want – and nothing you don’t! Pure Encapsulations is hypoallergenic, doesn’t use GMOs, dyes, and other junk ingredients. That simplicity does come with a hefty price tag, however, with each serving costing 70 cents.
- Best DHA-Enhanced Option: Actif Organic Prenatal Vitamin
If your doctor recommends a vitamin with added DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and other omega-3 fatty acids, the Reviews team recommends trying Actif Prenatal – one of the only formulas available that include this feature.
After consulting with three doctors to determine which nutrients are essential in a prenatal, the Reviews.com team looked for brands that included the following:
- Vitamin A (aka beta-carotene): to help the baby’s organs and bones develop
- Vitamin D: to aid in fetal development and help prevent preeclampsia
- Vitamins B12 and B6: for a healthy fetal nervous system
- Folic Acid: to prevent neural tube defects
- Iron: to boost production of blood volume
- Calcium: for bone health in both the baby and the mother
- Iodine: to aid in the baby’s brain development
What You Need to Know About Taking Prenatal Vitamins
- You should definitely be taking one! Every doctor that the Reviews.com team consulted with agreed – prenatals are a smart idea during pregnancy. It’s often difficult to get the right nutrients every day and a prenatal helps pick up the slack at a time when you need it most.
- Paying attention to your diet is still very important. Prenatals are a nutrition supplement, so they do just that. They can’t replace healthy eating habits!
- Prenatals aren’t FDA-approved. Because they are classified as a supplement, their ingredients are not subject to approval by the FDA so there’s no real guarantee that you’re getting what the label promises. The best way to stay safe and protected? Make sure the one you go with is vetted and approved by an independent regulator, like the U.S. Pharmaceutical Convention.
- If possible, start taking your prenatal before you get pregnant. To ensure that you’re receiving the right levels of folic acid during your first weeks of pregnancy, start taking a prenatal 2-3 months before trying to conceive.
- Don’t panic if you can’t stomach your vitamin. Unfortunately, side effects like nausea and constipation come with the package. If you start taking a vitamin that doesn’t work for your body, speak with your doctor regarding your other options!
For more information, including Reviews.com methodology and other picks, visit: http://www.reviews.com/prenatal-vitamins/
What prenatal vitamin did you take during pregnancy? Do you feel like it was the right choice? Share your thoughts in the comments!
My vitamins were prescribed by my doctors and I kept taking them until she said that we could stop. I was carrying twins then and we wanted to make sure that I get everything I need to go full term. Which I did! Awesome tips!
This is a helpful guide for prenatals! There are so many it was nice to see the recommendations by the experts.
One of the first things I did when I got pregnant was go buy prenatal vitamins. It’s so important to stay healthy when pregnant!
When I was pregnant I ended up taking some kind of gummy prenatal. I have such a hard time swallowing large prenatal pills.
I tried to take ones the ob-gyn gave me but they upset my stomach so I took a regular multi vitamin and and extra folic acid pill.
I always looked to my OB/GYN to guide me in picking a prenatal vitamin that didn’t make me sick in the morning! There are certain ingredients that are really important!
This is great information. I just took the ones that the doctor gave to me, I didn’t even question it.