A healthy diet is of the utmost importance when pregnant. But no matter how self-conscious you are, a prenatal vitamin is still very important. During pregnancy your recommended nutrient intake increases and with morning sickness being a very common problem you may find that sticking to your healthy diet doesn’t go so well.Â
By taking prenatal vitamins you can ensure that you and your baby are getting the right amounts of nutrients. A prenatal vitamin is the best choice – better than your regular multivitamin. Prenatal vitamins contain ingredients that are important for pregnancy such as Folic Acid, DHA, calcium, iron and vitamin D in adequate amounts for you and baby.Â
Let’s help you make the best choice for your prenatal vitamin. Check out the 12 best prenatal vitamins currently on the market.
The Women’s One-A-Day prenatal vitamin is one of the most recommended options on the market. It is a favorite with health care providers and mothers alike. These are now in a new gel tablet form which makes them easier to swallow which can also help to reduce symptoms of morning sickness. These provide a complete nutrient profile for women at every stage of conception. They include all the key nutrients such as calcium, iron, folic acid, and DHA. These supplements are gluten-free and the One-A-Day brand is the #1 recommended prenatal brand by OBGYNs. The tablets are free of wheat, dairy, artificial flavors, and artificial sweeteners.
Pros:Â
- Easier to swallow since they are gel tablets and are also smaller than the previous tablet form.Â
- Has 100% of the daily requirement for pregnant women for folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D and DHA.
- Great for pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and during breastfeeding.
- Very easy to acquire both in stores and online
Cons :
- A few users indicate an orange coloring on the inside of the bottle
NatureMade Prenatal Vitamins & DHA
This is another favorite of health professionals. The NatureMade Prenatal Vitamins & DHA comes in bottles with 90 capsules and is a once a day vitamin. These vitamins are soft gel pills which include adequate amounts of magnesium, biotin, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin D.Â
This prenatal vitamin formulation is free of synthetic dyes and preservatives and it is also free of gluten. It is designed to be better absorbed into the body to provide better nutritional support for both mom and baby.Â
They are the ideal choice for the different stages of conception and can be used for post-natal nutrition support for both breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding moms.Â
ProsÂ
- Includes DHA in a once per day dosing making it quite convenient
- Easy to source both online and offline
- Loved by professionals and experienced mom’s alike
Cons
- Unpleasant smell and taste is reported by someÂ
The Rainbow Light Prenatal One Multivitamin is another very popular option right now. This is a vegan and gluten-free option that is easy on the digestive system.Â
Each container includes a total of 50 multivitamins with once per day dosing.Â
These multivitamins are specifically formulated without the 8 major allergens and they also contain probiotics to help make them easy on your entire digestive system. Users of these vitamins also note that they help to reduce some of pregnancy’s unpleasant side effects. Along with that, these vitamins are affordably priced.
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy on the stomach
- Vegan and Gluten-free formulationÂ
- Minimizes pregnancy side effects
Cons
- Large tabletsÂ
- UncoatedÂ
Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal vitamins are a whole food supplement that has a very impressive list of ingredients perfect for mom and her growing baby. Outside of the usual ingredients found in prenatal vitamins this one also has ginger and B6 which can help to ease the discomforts of morning sickness.Â
It is an organic vegetable blend with no fillers or binders and includes probiotics to ensure it also supports your immune system. The bottle is complete with 90 tablets per bottle and has a dosage of three tablets per day.
Pros:
- Vegetarian-FriendlyÂ
- Gluten-Free
- Free of Binders and Fillers
- Formulation supports digestive health
- Contains folate and not folic acid
Cons:
- Three times daily dosage
- No DHA content
The Nordic Naturals Prenatal with DHA is a great choice if you are looking for a prenatal vitamin that contains this ingredient. It has more than the daily intake recommendations for the development of a healthy baby’s brain with 480 mg of DHA.Â
This prenatal supplement is certified to be free of all environmental toxins and is one of the few prenatal vitamins that is approved by the NSF International for safety and quality.Â
Note well that this supplement doesn’t contain several vitamins and minerals that you would find commonplace in other prenatal vitamins so it is best to be used to supplement a good prenatal vitamin.
Pros:
- High In DHAÂ
- Approved by NSF International
- Top-quality prenatal supplement add-on
Cons:
- No folic acid
- No Iron
The Smarty Pants prenatal vitamins are chewable which makes them a great choice if you tend to have trouble swallowing tablets. These are available in many flavors including strawberry, orange, banana, and lemon.Â
The Smarty Pants prenatal gummies do not include high fructose corn syrup, no preservatives, and no sweeteners. It is complete with folic acid, Vitamin D and DHA. The daily dosage is 6 gummies per day and the package holds a total of 90 gummies.
Pros:
- Is chewable so you don’t have to worry about swallowing a large tablet
- No artificial flavors, preservatives or sweeteners
- All-natural flavoringsÂ
- Affordable and easy to source
Cons:
• Does not contain iron
The mykind Organics prenatal vitamin is another option from the Garden of Life brand. This particular prenatal vitamin is USDA certified organic which is not common in the industry. The supplement is supplied in a jar with 180 tablets and can be used before, during and after pregnancy.Â
The dosage for these prenatal vitamins is three tablets per day. They contain all essential nutrients along with the right amounts of pregnancy-related supplements as well. Not only does this offer a complete vitamin profile but all ingredients used are non-GMO and vegan-friendly.Â
Pros:
- USDA Certified Organic
- All non-GMO ingredients
- Vegan-friendly
- Complete prenatal vitamin profile
- Gentle on the stomach
Cons:
- Contains vitex which some people have the sensitivity to
Vegan mommies don’t have to worry with this vegan option. This prenatal vitamin is made with no animal by-products. It comes with 60 tablets per bottle and has stunning ratings from pregnant and postnatal moms alike.Â
The dosage for the Mama Bear prenatal vitamins is twice daily and it has all the required prenatal vitamins along with probiotics which aid the digestive process. What it doesn’t contain are iodine, iron, and DHA. But it does have a higher dosage of vitamin D than others and uses folate and not folic acid. All while being priced at an affordable price.Â
Pros:
- Vegan
- Includes probiotics to improve digestive health
- Uses folate as opposed to folic acid
- Higher than normal Vitamin D concentration
- Affordably priced
Cons:
- Does not contain Iron, iodine or DHA
- Twice daily dosing
These prenatal vitamins from First Response are made in gummy form. So they are great for mommies who don’t like to swallow pills. The bottles carry 90 gummies in a pleasant flavor.
They are an ideal choice for pregnancy and into breastfeeding as they are designed with nourishment for all stages of the process from pre-pregnancy to breastfeeding. These gummies, unlike others, include DHA but of course, there is no iron. Since they don’t have iron they tend to be gentler on the stomach.Â
Pros:Â
- Great tasting
- Easy on the stomach
- Helps to minimize morning sickness
- Affordable and readily available
Cons:
• No iron content
This prenatal vitamin from New Chapter is liked for its formula. While it contains 100% of your daily iron requirement it features a non-constipating formula. This is a welcome feature for many health care providers and mothers.Â
The bottle comes with 48 vitamins and the daily dosage is three tablets per day. Along with the standard array of vitamins that you would find in prenatal, this supplement also has probiotics. This helps the vitamins to be easier on the stomach.Â
These prenatal vitamins have received a wealth of good reviews online. With consumers noting they do not cause discomfort or nausea.Â
Pros:
- Non-constipating formula
- Great reviews from previous users
- Gentle on stomach
Cons:Â
- Three times daily dosing
- • Expensive
If you are not into tablets or gummies the Oxylent liquid vitamin supplement may be just the prenatal vitamin option that is right for you. This particular one is recommended by the American Pregnancy Association so you know it is a big deal.Â
This prenatal multivitamin includes Methyl Folate which is the form of folate which is most biologically active. It includes iron in the form of B6 which is very easy on your stomach. This supplement is recommended for women who are trying to conceive, women who are pregnant or nursing and women who find all other supplements present them with nausea.Â
No more chewing with this prenatal vitamin from Oxylent, just add water and drink.Â
Pros:
- Great for 1st trimester when you can’t keep anything down
- Recommended by the American Pregnancy Association
- Easy on the stomach with adequate amounts of iron
- Full month supply in one purchase
- Eases constipationÂ
Cons:
• Expensive
The MegaFood Baby & Me vitamins are pretty pricey. These prenatal vitamins have the seal of approval from the NSF International which verifies the safety and quality of supplies.Â
This brand uses ingredients that are easier to absorb and so are more expensive. The prenatal vitamins are loaded with nutrients that are derived from real foods. Many of the foods that are used are organic.Â
The vitamins include more than enough folic acid and an ample amount of vitamin D. You are required to take 4 pills per day which may be a bit much for some people. Bear in mind that this supplement doesn’t carry all the iron and calcium you need so you want to ensure that your diet is rich in iron and calcium-containing foods.
CONCLUSION
There are many prenatal vitamins to choose from and it seems everybody has their very own brand. But before you purchase an inferior product take a look at the 12 prenatal vitamins above. We promise you these are the best currently on the market with many having their niche benefits.Â
For a complete prenatal vitamin that contains all the necessary nutrients in the right amounts and one which is recommended by OBGYN and other health professionals, we recommend the One-A-Day prenatal. These soft gels are easier to swallow thanks to their gel form and also the fact they are smaller than your typical prenatal vitamins.Â
Do you need something that goes down easy and is easy on your stomach? Why not try the Oxylent Prenatal multivitamin Liquid supplement?
Which of these vitamins will you purchase today? What are your special needs?
Cris
