Whether you are trying to fall pregnant, or just found out that you are already pregnant (congratulations!), it is essential that you introduce prenatal vitamins into your diet. Yes, even if you have been having a healthy and balanced diet all this while. Why so?
Our body will still be short of key vitamins and nutrients that it needs to conceive, and if you are already pregnant, the food you are consuming may not have enough of vitamins to distribute for two. This is why doctors usually recommend prenatal vitamins when you visit them for advice.
Sometimes, your doctor will prescribe you prenatal vitamins and these will not be available without a prescription. The good news is, there are also many over the counter prenatal vitamins that you can choose from in pharmacies.
This is a big topic with many things that you should know about these little pills, so click on the links below to lead you to your topic of interest. Otherwise, lets first go the most burning question that most of you have - what are the best over the counter prenatal vitamins?
1. The Top 5 Best Over the Counter Prenatal Vitamins
Being the first prenatal vitamin that is made with certified organic vegetables and herbs, non-GMO project verified, vegetarian, kosher, gluten free, sugar free with no synthetic fillers or animal gelatine, New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Vitamins is the best organic prenatal vitamins to go to if you are in the hunt for one.
What we love about the New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Vitamins is that it utilises folate instead of folic acid (read below to see why folate is preferred). Its probiotic and non-constipating iron elements also ensure that you do not need to worry about constipation, a common problem plaguing many mothers-to-be.
It is also odorless so it will not trigger any nausea. Even if not because of the smell, you know how some vitamins will cause the nausea side effect? This will not do that to you because its ingredients are uniquely fermented. If you are not aware, taking whole food fermented vitamins will not cause any nausea.
Being truly organic, it is gentle on the stomach and can also be consumed even without food. We'd still advise you to have your three main meals regularly and take this vitamin after each meal since you will need to take 3 pills a day. Building up this habit will ensure you do not forget your daily dose.
It does not, however, contain prenatal DHA but you can get your dose from New Chapter's Wholemega for Moms which is hugely popular also, and is often bought together with the Perfect Prenatal Vitamins. Also, the calcium content in this one is relatively low - only 75mg - so make sure you have your calcium supplement separately.
New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Vitamins is the best organic prenatal vitamin that we strongly recommend getting. It may be slightly pricier than other brands but considering it contains the best all natural prenatal vitamins, we think it is worth the extra bucks paid.
If you are one of those that prefer just one capsule a day to cover everything you need, and do not insist on organic, then the Nature Made Prenatal Multi +DHA is the best over the counter prenatal vitamins with DHA for you.
This multivitamin contains every key nutrient you need - folic acid, calcium, iron, vitamin D, zinc and 200mg of omega-3 fatty acid DHA. It does not contain artificial flavours, preservatives, yeast or synthetic dyes. It does, however, contain wheat so it may not be suitable for those with such allergies.
With this vitamin, you just need one capsule a day and you will need to eat it with food. It comes in soft gel form which makes it easier to swallow, and this makes up for the fact that it is relatively large for some.
The downside of this multivitamin is that it is not completely odorless. There is a faint fish smell but then again, there really isn't any brand (apart from this) that is completely free from it since it IS a nutrient extracted from fish. The smell is not as strong as other brands but still, if you suffer quite badly in this department, this is something you should keep in mind. Consuming it with food does help though, we find!
Coming from a brand that became the first national vitamin brand in the U.S to earn the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), you can have peace of mind that you are in good hands with the Nature Made Prenatal Multi +DHA, the best DHA for pregnancy.
This is one of the more underrated prenatal vitamins in our opinion, but nonetheless, is one that we'd recommend if you are looking for the best prenatal vitamins with folic acid.
Now, you may wonder, doesn't all prenatal vitamins come with folic acid since it is such a vital nutrient to pregnant (or trying to get pregnant) women? Yes, most prenatal multivitamins do, but not many provide folic acid in its natural form - the folate (like New Chapter's) and Best Nest Prenatal Vitamins is one that does so, but not quite at New Chapter's price tag.
In fact, Best Nest Prenatal Vitamin's content of methyl folate (a natural form of folic acid and 7x more bioavailable) and methylcobalamin (a natural form of B12) is unheard of in a multivitamin. These, together with 25+ other key vitamins are 100% organic blend and is made from whole food. Probiotics are present too to combat any constipation problem.
We also love how it is vegetarian friendly and is free of, fish/shellfish, sugar, preservatives, artificial colours, fillers and flavours. It is also allergen safe from soy, yeast, nuts, dairy and lactose, and is gluten free and non GMO too!
Like most multivitamins, all you need is just one capsule a day and what's better is that it is ultra-gentle on an empty stomach. Thanks to its unique blend of probiotics, digestive enzymes and organic herbal blend, the Best Nest Prenatal Vitamins can even help ease morning sickness and upset tummies if you have these symptoms.
If you are one of those that have enough iron and iodine and do not want to overdose on them from your prenatal vitamins, you can choose its iron & iodine-free version.
If you are somewhat concerned over the price of this prenatal vitamin and would like something cheaper, Rainbow Light - Prenatal One Multivitamin is another one of the best otc prenatal vitamins you can consider. Just be sure to buy it from reputable sellers as there are many counterfeits in the market due to its popularity.
If you do not mind the price tag, we say go for the Best Nest Prenatal Vitamins. It is one of the best natural prenatal vitamins we have come across to date. And oh, do you know that it is fully produced in the U.S too? Definitely a plus to be supporting local companies!
If you really cannot stand swallowing vitamins in pill form (we understand, they are not the easiest especially if they are in horse size!), then gummy prenatal vitamins is your solution. When it comes to the best chewable prenatal vitamins, none can beat Vitafushion Prenatal Gummy Vitamins.
These vitamins taste like candies, but with healthy nutrients that your pregnant body needs. They are perhaps the only ones containing DHA that do not have a fishy smell so that's good news! If you absolutely cannot tolerate even the faintest fishy smell, your doctor will most likely advise you to get these.
While it is also packed with folic acid, do note that it does not contain iron. Depending on your body, it may or may not be good news. If you are short of iron, remember you will still need to get your dose separately.
The down side of this is that there is sugar sprinkled over these gummies, so they are not naturally the healthiest. You also need to keep them refrigerated after opening.
We wouldn't be surprised if taking your prenatal vitamins is now something you look forward to everyday (you need to take two each day, yay)! Vitafushion Prenatal Gummy Vitamins is still the best tasting one out of all brands we have tested, it is no wonder it is regarded as the best prenatal gummies mothers choose!
There is only a handful of vegan prenatal vitamins in the market, but this one from Diet Standards far surpasses our expectation in all aspects.
Now, you may wonder, how is it vegan when it has DHA in it, an omega-3 which is usually derived from fishes? Let us assure you, its DHA is 100% vegan because it is fully extracted from algae. Combining with EPA (also from algae), it creates the ideal omega-3 blend that is no different from fish-extracted ones and scientific research has also found that this bio-balance of DHA and EPA makes it easier for your body to absorb.
With Diet Standards Prenatal DHA, you do not need to worry about the presence of mercury and other harmful toxins in your supplement (this is not saying non-vegan ones contain them, as they are usually filtered out completely during the process of manufacturing).
Apart from that, it contains no gluten, dairy, egg, nuts, soy, salt, yeast, starch and animal products (yes, not even animal gelatine is used in the soft gels) as well, so it is truly 100% vegan and is perfect for mothers who are allergic to any of these elements.
The high quality of this vegan prenatal vitamin makes it one of the best prenatal with DHA. However, do note that this is not a multivitamin so you do still need to get them separately. This specially formulated prenatal DHA will, however, gives you all the omega-3 you and your baby need. For those that are hypersensitive over the fish odor, this will be a good choice for you too to keep the quese away!
2. What to Look for in Prenatal Vitamins
You may wonder: what is the difference between regular vitamins and prenatal vitamins?
The answer is, prenatal vitamins should consist the following 4 vitamins and minerals in the recommended amount per day, which may not necessarily be available in regular vitamins.
1. Folic Acid (0.4mg)- Also known as vitamin B-9, this is probably the most important vitamin as it helps to reduce the risk of birth defects, spina bifida and anencephaly. If you can, we recommend getting those with folate, which is vitamin B-9 in its natural form as folic acid is a synthetic ingredient.
2. Iron (27mg) - Iron supports blood building and is something pregnant women should ramp up in because you need it not just for yourself, but for baby too. But beware, just like everything else, too much can be harmful so don't overdo it. Check with your doctor too as every body differs. You may not need the prenatal dosage, after all!
3. Calcium (1000mg) - Your baby needs this to grow healthy bones, teeth, heart, nerves and muscles. If you don't have enough of it, your baby will draw it from your bones which will impair your bone health later on. Even after giving birth and finished breastfeeding, continue to pay attention to your calcium intake to prevent osteoporosis or bone density loss.
4. Iodine (220mcg) - This is essential for the development of your baby's brain and nervous system, as well as metabolism system. It is also important to regulate your thyroid gland. Most prenatal vitamins will have sufficient iodine in them.
All recommendations in our prenatal vitamins reviews above fulfil the above, so you can purchase in assurance.
3. What is the best time to take prenatal vitamins
Taking prenatal vitamins only after you got pregnant is a misconception.
It has been recommended that adult women take this supplement to keep their reproductive system healthy, but it's never too late - you can start taking them today. If you are planning to conceive, you should also start taking immediately as they are the best prenatal vitamins before pregnancy.. Studies have proven that prenatal vitamins increase the chances of women falling pregnant.
It IS a MUST to take them while you are pregnant, and you should follow the dosage recommended by the brand, or as prescribed by your doctor. One way we find that makes it easier to remember is to eat it after each meal (if it's three times a day) so that you don't forget. If it's two times, take it in the morning and night.
There really isn't one best time to take it - every body differs. As long as it suits your timetable and you don't get an upset stomach from it, then that is your best time to take prenatal vitamins.
4. What are the side effects of prenatal vitamins
Just like morning sickness, the side effects of prenatal vitamins differ for every woman. What may trigger somebody else may not happen to you at all.
Nonetheless, the common side effects reported by women are upset stomach, nausea, constipation and sometimes loss of appetite. For the first two problems, you may consider switching your supplements to this and this. They are well known for their gentle effect on the stomach. Or you can try eating it with your meals or even blend it into your smoothies (we know this works for many!).
5. Conclusion
We recommend seeing your doctor to check your body before taking any supplements as it may be the case that your body has sufficient iron and thus may not require any additional in supplement form. We are by no means experts in the medical field so always, always run everything by your doctor first to ensure a healthy and happy pregnancy journey!
