Prenatal vitamins are an essential part of any pregnancy, but which ones should you choose? This can be a confusing decision, especially if you’re trying to navigate a grocery store full of different brands and types—all claiming that they’re the best. Some women prefer to take gummy vitamins during their pregnancies because they’re easier to swallow (and more fun than pills). Others want something more traditional like chewable tablets or capsules. Still others may need prescription prenatal vitamins after seeing their doctor because of preexisting conditions or dietary restrictions.
Not every woman is the same.
As you probably already know, no two women are created exactly the same. The same goes for prenatal vitamins. While some prenatals contain the “standard” recommended daily intake of nutrients that all pregnant women need, these recommendations vary depending on your unique health needs. For example: Some women need more iron than others; some need more calcium than others; some need more folic acid than others. So what’s best? It depends!
While this may seem overwhelming and frustrating (and give you reason to abandon looking into prenatal vitamins altogether), there is one thing we can say with absolute certainty: You should talk to your doctor about which ones are right for you. Your doctor will have insight into your own personal situation—things like if any of your family members have had issues conceiving or carrying a baby to term; if there are any major health concerns; if there’s been any previous history of birth defects in previous pregnancies—that could affect how much iron or folic acid would be beneficial for you during pregnancy.
You can get the prenatal vitamin you need without prescription.
A prenatal vitamin is a multi-vitamin supplement that contains the essential vitamins and minerals needed to promote a healthy baby. Prenatal vitamins are often prescribed for women who are pregnant or trying to conceive, but you can also purchase them over-the-counter at your local grocery store or pharmacy.
If you’re looking for a prenatal vitamin, start by asking yourself what specific nutrients you want included in the supplement. Some options might contain more calcium or iron than others, so it’s important to consider whether these factors will affect how well your body absorbs the pills (and therefore how much of each nutrient your body actually receives).
Next, take into account whether you prefer chewable tablets or capsules. If you don’t like swallowing capsules with food, opt for something chewable instead—this way there won’t be an unpleasant aftertaste in your mouth afterward!
Your prenatal vitamin should contain no less than 300 mg of DHA and 27 mg of iron.
DHA and iron are both essential for the development of your baby’s brain and eyes. Pregnant women require approximately 300 mg of DHA during pregnancy, but many prenatal vitamins contain less than that amount. Iron is also important to the growth and development of your baby’s brain, as well as their nervous system. While most multivitamins contain 27 mg of iron, it’s important to choose one with at least 30 mg if you are expecting a baby (and 40-60 grams if breastfeeding).
Look for a multivitamin with at least 600 mcg of folic acid.
If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, look for a multivitamin with at least 600 mcg of folic acid. Folic acid plays an important role in fetal development and is recommended by the FDA as part of a daily prenatal vitamin supplement. The FDA recommends that women take 400 mcg of folic acid daily before getting pregnant and during pregnancy, regardless of whether they are trying to conceive or not.
If you’re currently taking your prenatal vitamins with less than 600 mcg of folic acid per day, consider switching to a different brand that has this level or more – it may be worth it!
Calcium and Vitamin D are essential for fetal bone growth.
Calcium and vitamin D are essential for fetal bone growth. Calcium is needed for calcium-dependent processes, such as muscle contraction, including the heart muscle. It’s also important in blood clotting and nerve transmission. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium from food and supplements.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an essential role in regulating cellular function, immune function and bone health (1). It’s required during pregnancy because it supports the absorption of calcium (2), which is essential for fetal growth and development. The recommended daily intake during pregnancy is 600 IU (international units) if you’re under 19 years old; 700 IU if you’re between 20–50 years old; 800 IU if you’re 51–70 years old; 1,000 IU if you’re 71 or older (3).
It’s important that you get all your essential nutrients during pregnancy, no matter how you decide to take them.
Prenatal vitamins are a great way to help ensure your baby gets all the nutrients and minerals they need. And it’s important that you get all your essential nutrients during pregnancy, no matter how you decide to take them.
But which vitamins should you buy? How much should you take? And what about brands or types of multivitamins? In this article we’ll walk through some of the options available and help guide you in choosing which prenatal vitamin is best for your needs.
Conclusion
We hope you found this article useful. We know that it can be difficult to sift through all the information out there, but we wanted to make sure that at least one resource was available for people looking for a good prenatal vitamin.