One-a-Day for Two: Best Prenatal Vitamins

Best Pregnancy Vitamins

When it comes to finding the best prenatal vitamins, three ingredients are key: folic acid, calcium and iron. As long as your prenatal vitamins have these three ingredients, you should be all set, although other newly-discovered supplements are available and often added to a brand’s prenatal vitamin blend. The exact amounts of folic acid, calcium and iron required during pregnancy are also important, and overdosing on any one vitamin can be dangerous. If money is an option, look for brands that incorporate all three, as well as other additional supplements.

Folic Acid

If you keep up with prenatal vitamin reviews, you’ll notice the importance of folic acid in your prenatal vitamin rotation. Folic acid is essential in preventing neural tube defects, which can cause defects that result in brain or spinal cord disorders. When searching for a prenatal vitamin with folic acid, look for a brand that includes at least 400 mcg, although 800 to 1000 mcg is best. Talk to your doctor about upping your dose if you have other children with neural tube defects. On top of your daily dose of folic acid, consider adding inositol, which also helps prevent neural tube defects. The recommended dosage of inositol is 20mg to 25mg per day.

Calcium and Iron

Calcium is an essential prenatal vitamin for both you and your baby. Calcium helps with teeth and bone development, as well as muscle and nervous system growth. When taking a prenatal calcium supplement, look for brand that provides at least 750 mg. For added bone health, consider Vitamin D3 in doses of 400 international units. Vitamin D3 also helps prevent preeclamsia and depression. Iron is an important prenatal supplement for both you and your baby because it prevents you from acquiring anemia, while helping to support the blood and muscle cell development for your baby. Depending on your doctor’s recommendation and the results of your blood work, you may need more or less iron than other pregnant women. The average pregnant woman requires 25 to 30 mg per day, which most prenatal or women’s vitamin brands provide.

Other Supplements

UPDATE:  A lot of you have written in and asked for natural antioxidant options that are worth trying.  We recommend trying the Maqui Berry.  It’s proper name is Aristotelia Chilensis, and it is a GREAT alternative to prenatal vitamins.  Check out he Wikipedia Page as well as the http://allmaquiberry.com/botany-and-history-of-aristotelia-chilensis.  Remember.  Natural remedies won’t be as STRONG but they can still be very beneficial.

For added protection, consider a prenatal vitamin with CoQ10, which helps prevent preeclampsia, or probiotics, which can reduce the size of an excessively large baby. Vitamin B6 has been known to help prevent miscarriages, while choline supplements can boost a child’s learning ability and memory. DHA has also been shown to help with eye and brain development.

Pregnancy nutrition and prenatal supplements help prevent birth defects and boost your child’s development and brain activity. Prenatal vitamins have even been shown to prevent learning disorders and childhood obesity.  Once you have found the best prenatal vitamins, remember to take them regularly. Taking them every day may seem daunting, but adding extra nutrients to your diet is essential for a healthy, happy baby. If you have any questions about your dosage or other nutritional needs, make an appointment with your OB/GYN, who can help decide which prenatal vitamin is best for you.