Whether you’re trying to conceive, pregnant, or breastfeeding, taking a high-quality prenatal vitamin helps ensure proper levels of key nutrients that support fertility, a healthy pregnancy, and postpartum healing.
Taking a prenatal vitamin is recommended for at least 3 months before conceiving and continuing throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Below each prenatal vitamin, I’ve included a listing of any additional supplements you would need to take with each specific prenatal so that you meet the most recent recommendations. Keep in mind that these prenatals do not contain DHA, so that will need to be taken separately in a fish or algae oil (600 – 1000mg of DHA).
NEEDED PRENATAL MULTI CAPSULES or POWDER
What’s Missing:
- Iron: If you’re anemic or have low iron levels, you will need to add an iron supplement.
SEEKING HEALTH OPTIMAL PRENATAL
What’s Missing:
- Choline: Contains only 250 mg of choline. 550 – 930 mg of choline is optimal. If you’re not eating choline-rich foods (pasture-raised eggs, liver, and beef), add a choline supplement.
- Iron: If you’re anemic, you will need to add an iron supplement.
PURE ENCAPSULATIONS PRENATAL NUTRIENTS
This Prenatal Falls Short in Several Key Areas:
- Preformed Vitamin A (retinol): Beta-carotene does not convert well into vitamin A, so it’s important that you take some vitamin A in the active form (often listed as retinyl palmitate). Do not exceed 10,000 IU of the active form of vitamin A from supplements and food combined (liver is the richest source of vitamin A).
- Vitamin B12: 2.6 mcg in methylcobalamin (needs ~200 mcg in the 2- or 3-form blend)
- Choline: 100 mg (needs 550–930 mg)
- Vitamin C: 70 mg (needs 400–750 mg)
- Iodine: 150 mcg (needs ~290 mcg)
- Magnesium: 80 mg (needs 300–600 mg)
- Vitamin D3: 1,000 IU (needs ~4,000 IU)
- Vitamin K2: 0 mcg (needs 65–100 mcg)
- Vitamin E: 12 mg (needs 22-30 mg)
- Zinc: 15 mg (needs 25 mg)
This Prenatal Falls Short in Several Key Areas:
• Choline: 110 mg (needs 550–930 mg)
• Magnesium: 90 mg (needs 300–600 mg)
• Vitamin C: 150 mg (needs 400–750 mg)
• Iodine: 150 mcg (needs ~290 mcg)
• Vitamin B12: Uses only methylcobalamin (needs the 2 or 3-form blend)
• Vitamin K2: 0 mcg (needs 65–100 mcg)
• Vitamin D3: 1000 IU (needs ~4000 IU)
GARDEN OF LIFE VITAMIN CODE RAW PRENATAL
This Prenatal Falls Short in Several Key Areas:
- Preformed Vitamin A (retinol): Beta-carotene does not convert well into vitamin A so it’s important that you take some vitamin A in the active form (often listed as retinyl palmitate). Do not exceed 10,000 IU of the active form of vitamin A from supplements and food combined (liver is the richest source of vitamin A).
- Vitamin B12: This formula contains only 2.8 mcg of B12. The forms of B12 that are most easily used by the body are adenosylcobalamin, methylcobalamin, and hydroxocobalamin. Ideally, you should take around 150 – 300 mcg of these forms.
- Vitamin C: 120 mg (needs 400–750 mg)
- Vitamin E: 19 mg (needs 22-30 mg)
- Choline: This formula does not contain any choline. 550 – 930 mg of choline is optimal. If you’re not eating choline-rich foods (pasture-raised eggs, liver, and beef), add a choline supplement.
- D3: Contains only 1400 IU. 4000 IU is recommended.
- Magnesium: 0 mg (needs 300–600 mg)
- Zinc: 13mg (need 25 mg)
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* As always, please talk to your doctor before starting to take any new supplements.