The Best Prenatal Vitamin

Trying to conceive or perhaps you have already been blessed with a growing baby inside? Now is the time to consider taking a prenatal vitamin for healthy growth and development of baby and yourself.  Pregnancy can be tough on your body, and in addition, there are quite a few nutrients that a growing baby needs to sustain itself in the womb. More than sustenance, prenatal vitamins have been proven to prevent some abnormalities in thriving babies and aid in a healthy birth weight. There are a few key vitamins and supplements that can be found in the best prenatal vitamins. Let’s investigate what makes a prenatal vitamin the best.

Perhaps one of the most important ingredients in modern prenatal vitamins is folic acid. Medical research has shown that neural tube defects in a baby, including brain and spinal cord defects, can be prevented by increasing folic acid intake during pregnancy. This is a supplement you’ll find in most prenatal vitamins today.

Another common supplement in prenatal vitamins is iron. This is key in preventing anemia in both the baby and the mother. Anemia is when the blood is deficient of red blood cells, and when there is an increase of iron intake, the red blood cells become sturdier. Anemia is not uncommon in pregnancy and will show up in the initial blood draw in pregnancy most of the time. However, if you do not address anemia when pregnant, it can affect the baby’s iron levels as well and leave them anemic.

For the third trimester specifically, you will want to be conscientious of the calcium and vitamin D in your prenatal vitamins. These two are especially important those last few months because that is when the baby’s bones and teeth are growing at an accelerated pace. In addition to taking those prenatal vitamins religiously, it’s important to maintain any fevers that you contract. Fevers have been shown to cause tooth bud decay among other dangers to baby. Keeping fevers at a safe temperature with doctor prescribed methods will help to keep baby safe.

Healthy brain development in the baby during pregnancy is an important factor to remember when choosing a prenatal vitamin. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements are the suggested nutrient to achieve good brain health. They are usually found in prenatal vitamins for easiest consumption. However, you may not need a high dosage in your vitamins if you are very conscious of your diet and include things such as fish, flaxseeds, Brussels sprouts and avocados frequently.

“If you’re vegan or allergic to fish, talk to your doctor about other ways to meet your DHA/Omega-3 fatty acid needs during pregnancy,” says our resident expert Jessica Cording, a registered dietitian and health coach. “For example, there are algae-based DHA supplements available.”

To keep the mother’s immune system in good fighting condition, prenatal vitamins are often loaded with Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin E, as well as zinc and copper, to help support the stressed immunity. In combination with the other supplements mentioned above, these vitamins can be absorbed into the body and greatly aid in a healthy baby and mother.

Now, you may be wondering when the best time is to start taking prenatal vitamins. “The best time to start taking a prenatal vitamin is before you conceive. A lot of important fetal development occurs very early, before many women even know they’re pregnant,” says Cording. This is ideal because the very first things to develop in that first month are the neural tube, which includes the brain and the spinal cord.

“If you haven’t started taking a prenatal vitamin by the time you find out you’re pregnant, don’t freak out — just start taking it,” adds Cording. “Some doctors may also recommend continuing to take the prenatal vitamin while you breastfeed to account for increased maternal nutrient needs during lactation.”

Sometimes you may find a few unfavorable side effects from the prenatal vitamins. In combination with fluctuating hormone levels and changes in nutrient necessities, prenatal vitamins may cause nausea. If you experience this, try taking them at different times throughout the day. Doctors also recommend trying a gummy prenatal vitamin. This may help with the side effect of nausea.

Another suggestion to avoid negative side effects from the vitamins is to choose one that has raw whole foods and enzymes or probiotics. Whole foods tend to be a bit gentler on the stomach, and the enzymes really aid in digestion throughout the entire GI tract.

In addition to side effects, you will want to find a once a day prenatal vitamin. Remembering to take vitamins three or four times a day is tough, especially since your brain can be a little foggy during pregnancy. Once-a-day vitamins also help if your prenatal vitamin doesn’t sit well with you. A slight stomach ache once a day is more manageable than repetitive nausea throughout the day when you have a multi-dosage prenatal vitamin.

As you enter into the adventure of motherhood, remember to keep yourself and baby healthy. Prenatal vitamins are a great way to give the baby the nutrients it needs while keeping your immune system in tip-top shape. Also, there is no wrong or right prenatal vitamin, so don’t be afraid to switch around if you feel negative side effects from one. Consult with your OBGYN to help find the right one for you.

• Start taking prenatal vitamins before conceiving. Continue taking prenatal (or post-natal) vitamins after delivering the baby.
• Prenatal vitamins can be found over the counter at most drug stores.
• Make sure you’re buying a quality supplement when you buy an over-the-counter prenatal vitamin. “You want to purchase something that has been tested by a third party to ensure the product meets high standards,” says registered dietitian Jessica Cording. “A few examples are Consumer Labs, NSF International and United States Pharmacopeia (USP).”
• A calcium supplement may be taken in addition to a prenatal vitamin to reach the recommended dosage.
• Vegetarians or special diet patients should be aware of any of the essential nutrients that are missing from their dietary restrictions.
• Taking prenatal vitamins should be a supplement to a healthy and complete diet, not a substitute.
• Setting a reminder on your phone to help you remember to take the prenatal vitamins is also highly recommended.
• You will want to store prenatal vitamins as directed on the packaging. Most of them call for a cool, dry place like other vitamins.
• Since prenatal vitamin containers come in all sizes with different dosage recommendations, it would be a good idea to mark a refill date on your calendar to help you order or pick them up before you run out.
• If your doctor recommends taking any additional supplements or vitamins on top of your prenatal vitamins, it may be a good idea to get a daily pill container so you know when and which pills you have taken each day.
• As with all medicine and vitamins, keep prenatal vitamins out of reach of children and pets.
• Should any prenatal vitamins accidentally be ingested by a child or pet, the poison control number is 1-800-222-1222.
• Prenatal vitamins tend to be large pills, commonly referred to as horse pills. If they are too big for you to swallow, try crushing them and adding them to yogurt or a drink for easier consumption.