Taking the right prenatal vitamins is crucial to ensure your baby gets all the nutrients it needs during pregnancy. They also can help prevent a number of serious birth defects like neural tube deformities.
Choosing the best prenatal vitamin can seem daunting, especially since there are so many options on the market. The good news is that there are several factors to consider when shopping for a prenatal: It’s important to choose one that includes all the necessary nutrients, comes in a form you can easily take and has a high user rating.
It’s also helpful to choose a prenatal that contains added digestive enzymes, says Heather Bartos, M.D., a board-certified ob-gyn practicing outside Dallas, Texas. This type of supplement can be especially useful during pregnancy when you may suffer from morning sickness, she says.
A good prenatal should include folic acid (vitamin B9) and iron, which are both essential for fetal development, notes Dr. Purdie. In addition, she recommends including a vitamin C supplement with your prenatal because it aids in fetal collagen production and supports your immune system.
Another essential nutrient best prenatal during pregnancy is Vitamin D, which plays an important role in fetal bone development and aids maternal bone health, notes Dr. Purdie. She suggests that women who are trying to get pregnant or already pregnant take a prenatal vitamin with a dose of 600 IU of Vitamin D a day.
Some doctors even recommend that women with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, start taking a prenatal vitamin before they decide to have a baby. However, it’s recommended that you always talk to your doctor before consuming any supplements during or after pregnancy.
If you want to be sure you’re getting all the essential nutrients in your prenatal, look for a formula that’s been third-party tested by U.S. Pharmacopeia and has plenty of positive reviews online.
For example, Nature Made’s Prenatal Multi + DHA is a great option because it offers all the key nutrients you need in an affordable and easy-to-find pill format. Plus, it’s third-party tested and has over 33,000 mostly 5-star reviews.
New Chapter Perfect Prenatal is a solid choice if you’re looking for a prenatal that’s vegan, vegetarian, non-GMO and gluten free. It has all the essential nutrients you need, such as folate and iron, and is fermented to be gentler on your body.
The only thing that makes this formula a little less than ideal is the fact that it doesn’t contain calcium or vitamin C. These two nutrients are essential to maintaining strong bones, teeth and muscles during pregnancy, and you won’t get them from this formula alone.
Megafood Prenatal Baby & Me 2 is a good option if you’re looking for a clean, natural gummy prenatal that doesn’t contain any artificial coloring or flavoring. It’s also non-GMO, which means it isn’t contaminated with pesticides or herbicides.
This is another gummy prenatal that doesn’t include any gelatin, making it a good choice for vegans and vegetarians. It’s also third-party tested, so you can be sure that it doesn’t have any artificial coloring or flavoring.