In the end taking a prenatal vitamin of any sort is ultimately the most important thing. And for many of us-this isnt an efficient process.
They are made with synthetic vitamins that are not well absorbed or utilized well by our bodies and may even be harmful.
What to look for in a prenatal vitamin. Take a look at the label of any prenatal vitamin youre considering for a few key vitamins. Folic acid vitamin B9. Since babys neural tube forms in the first month of pregnancy before most women know that theyre pregnant its ideal to start taking your prenatal vitamin before you start trying to conceive.
A few key nutrients to be looking at where deficiencies have been linked to complications in pregnancy. Iron vitamin B12 folate vitamin D calcium magnesium choline and vitamin B6. In the end taking a prenatal vitamin of any sort is ultimately the most important thing.
Making sure it is high quality can help prevent complications in pregnancy and in the newborn. If up until this point your prenatal. He brings decades of expertise and talks about what to look for in a prenatal vitamin and why it is crucial to make sure you get all of the vitamins and minerals you need during pregnancy.
Kenn thank you for joining me on the pregnancy podcast today. I wanted to give my listeners a little bit of your background to have some context on your expertise in the. A lot of prenatal vitamins do not contain enough or do not at all contain iodine choline vitamin K2 selenium vitamin D vitamin B12 and magnesium.
Look to make sure your vitamin includes these. It is ideal to find a vitamin with activated B vitamins for example instead of folate or folic acid it should read L-methylfolate and instead of Vitamin B12 it should read methylcobalamin. Prenatal vitamins are available over-the-counter in nearly any pharmacy.
Your health care provider might recommend a specific brand or leave the choice up to you. Beyond checking for folic acid and iron look for a prenatal vitamin that contains calcium and vitamin D. They help promote the development of the babys teeth and bones.
It also might be beneficial to look for a prenatal vitamin that contains vitamin. Instead of the synthetic folic acid in many prenatal vitamins methylated folate is the natural form found in food. Folate vitamin B9 aids our bodies in the detoxification process of homocysteine.
Adequate levels of folate have been linked to preventing autism and neural tube defects. While there are many important nutrients to look for in prenatal vitamins three stand out. Look for a prenatal vitamin with 600 to 800 micrograms of folic acid and at least 18 milligrams of iron.
The RDA for iron for pregnant women is 27 milligrams but if you are consuming a diet filled with iron-rich foods and taking a prenatal vitamin you will likely meet your needs easily. Prenatal vitamins help ensure that you get the nutrients you need for a healthy pregnancy. Look for prenatal vitamins that have.
400 micrograms mcg of folic acid. 400 IU of vitamin D. What to look for in a Prenatal Vitamin - Steer clear of drugstore or mainstream brands of prenatal centrum costco ect.
They are made with synthetic vitamins that are not well absorbed or utilized well by our bodies and may even be harmful. For example synthetic vitamin E can cause congenital heart defects in babies and DNA damage in mamas. What to Look for in a Prenatal Vitamin Folic Acid Folic acid is an important nutrient a moms body needs before conception and throughout pregnancy.
Folic acid a form of folate plays a key role in supporting healthy brain and spinal cord development as well as neural tube closure. 12 Look for a prenatal vitamin that helps meet the recommended 800 mcg daily. The Mayo Clinic also suggests looking for a prenatal vitamin that includes vitamins C A and E.
Penn Medicine created this helpful chart to find the recommended daily allowance while youre pregnant or lactating but its important to. Its important to look for high-quality prenatal vitamins that are free of harsh chemicals parabens and phalates and do not contain artificial flavors or colors Scan the label of any supplement bottle you can find it below the list of included vitamins and minerals to make sure these preservatives stabilizers and colorants are absent. There are some slight nuances between different organic prenatal vitamins though.
Do you want gummies or pills. Are you looking for a formula that is easy on your sensitive stomach. Are additional probiotics a must.
Youll want to do your due diligence to find the option that best fits your requirements and when in doubt consult your doctor. Ready to browse our top picks. Prenatal vitamins often have a mile-long ingredient list that seems to include the whole alphabet of vitamins but you should look for the right amounts of a few key nutrients including.
Key things to look for in your prenatal vitamins. Folate is essential in making new cells-and this is whats going on when youre growing a baby. Many products contain folic acid.
However for our bodies to be able to use folic acid it must first be converted to methylfolate. And for many of us-this isnt an efficient process. For this reason you want to make sure your prenatal has L.
If you test positive for the mutated MTHFR then your prenatal vitamin should include L-methylfolate instead of folic acid. What Should I Look For In My Prenatal Vitamin. No matter how healthy you eat prenatal vitamins give you that extra boost when you just cant fit it all in.
Your prenatal should have your back as well as your unborn babys.