Best Prenatal Vitamins – Top 5 for 2017

The best way to make sure you’re getting enough vitamins is to eat a healthy diet, but unfortunately, many women don’t always have enough time to make sure they’re eating right.

When you’re not able to get enough nutrients from food, you can use prenatal vitamins to make up for it. There are several great prenatal supplements to choose from, and they’re great products for women who’re pregnant or hoping to conceive in the future.

Prenatal vitamins are different because they’re known to contain more iron and folic acid than other types of vitamins. To find the best products for your needs, you need to know what they are and how they work.

[button type=”default” color=”” target=”” link=”#list”]Click Here to Jump Ahead to the List[/button]

What Are Prenatal Vitamins?

Unlike most multivitamins, prenatal vitamins contain more iron and folic acid, and the extra folic acid is important for preventing neural tube defects. It’s important to protect against these serious defects because they can negatively affect a child’s spinal cord or brain.

The additional iron is useful for supporting the development and growth of your baby, and it protects against anemia. Prenatal vitamins are even capable of preventing premature birth, and they can contain a variety of different ingredients.

Several prenatal vitamin products are made with omega-3 fatty acids, which also support the development of a healthy child. If you don’t eat a lot of fish, then it’s not a bad idea to consider a product that has omega-3 in it.

The process of growing a baby is a lot of work, and if you don’t have plenty of essential vitamins, it can be very difficult to handle. The baby will take what it needs from your body, and to stay healthy, you’ll need to replenish what your own body needs to remain healthy.

Although the CDC recommends taking prenatal vitamins when you reach a childbearing age, you can take them at any age, and as long as you’re consuming a high-quality product, you can improve your health and pave the way for a healthy, beautiful child.

Benefits of Prenatal Vitamins

If you’re pregnant, it can be difficult to get all the nutrients that you need to stay healthy, and even if you eat plenty of food, you might not be getting enough of the nutrients needed for a healthy child.

Iron and folic acid are the two main ingredients that you’ll get from a prenatal vitamin, but there are several other essential nutrients contained with these supplements. Folic acid is an important catalyst for fertility, and doctors view it as a major player when it comes to reproduction.

The best time to consume extra folic acid is during the first trimester, which is when your child’s nervous system is developing. One of the greatest benefits of taking a prenatal vitamin supplement is improved fertility, and folic acid is very good at preventing ovulatory disorders.

Prenatal supplements also help to fight against congenital abnormalities and supports the healthy development of your child’s spinal cord. The ingredients in prenatal vitamins help to support the healthy development of your child’s brain, and since they contain calcium, they can prevent feelings of weakness.

Prenatal supplements contain a variety of vitamins, and each type of vitamin offers its own benefits. Calcium is great for stronger bones and muscles, and it can help prevent various disorders and sustain a normal heartbeat.

How Much Should I Take?

The vitamins inside prenatal supplements are important for fetal growth, but you need to pay close attention to how much supplement you’re consuming per day. You should also know that the nutrients contained within these products are synthetic, and they don’t allow you to neglect your normal diet.

When you’re pregnant, your daily requirements for several different minerals will increase, and you can satisfy these requirements with a high-quality prenatal vitamin. For the best results, you should always follow the dosage recommended by the manufacturer.

Most product labels will say UL and RDA, and the UL estimate represents the maximum amount that you can take per day. The RDA estimate is the recommended dietary allowance, and most women will benefit from following the RDA dosage.

If you’re planning to take a prenatal vitamin, then you should avoid taking other supplements that contain the same ingredients. During your pregnancy, you should never take more than twice the RDA. To get the most out of any supplement, the best time to take it is almost always in the morning.

You should try to take all your supplements in the morning because this time is easier to remember. The nutrients in the supplement can be absorbed at any time during the day, which is why timing isn’t very important.

What to Look for In a Good One?

When you’re pregnant, your body requires a greater supply of nutrients, and if you’re not getting enough nutrition from food, it’s a good idea to supplement with a prenatal vitamin.

The only issue is that there are hundreds of different products to choose from, and to find the best prenatal product for your needs, you must know what to look for.

It should come as no surprise that the major ingredient to check for is folic acid, and this nutrient is extremely important because it prevents neural tube defects.

If you’re old enough to give birth, or you’re already pregnant, consider supplements that have at least 400mcg of folic acid, which is the recommended dietary intake.

To maintain proper blood volume, the second major ingredient to check for iron, and the best prenatal supplements should give you at least 27mg of iron.

Products that give you extra calcium are also worth considering, and you should watch out for supplements that contain vitamins K, E, D and A in large amounts because high doses of these nutrients can be toxic for your baby.

When shopping for a high-quality prenatal vitamin, check to see if the product contains folate, which is a better form of folic acid. Many top products are sourced from whole foods, and in most cases, they’re healthier and more effective than alternative options.

What to Avoid

The extra nutrients from these products are great for your child, but if you’re going to take a supplement, you should know what to avoid while using it.

The good news is that there aren’t any major interactions to avoid because the ingredients in these supplements are very safe, and they rarely interact with medications. However, if you’re prone to kidney stones, avoid taking a prenatal supplement that contains a high dose of calcium.

When using these products, you need to be aware of any herbs you’re taking and make sure they’re safe to take. It’s not uncommon for women to drink smoothies and consume food products that contain additional vitamins.

Several popular cold-pressed drinks are made with extra vitamins, and if you don’t check the nutritional label, you’ll never know if you’re consuming too much. Since prenatal vitamins already contain plenty of iron and folic acid, you should avoid products that are formulated with these nutrients.

For example, too much vitamin A can cause birth defects, and since most people think more is always better, consuming too much of any vitamin can have unwanted side effects.

My Top Five Prenatal Vitamins

Below are brief reviews for five of the best prenatal vitamins I’ve come across over the years.

MegaFood – Baby & Me, Prenatal & Postnatal Support

The MegaFood Baby & Me prenatal supplement is a popular choice for before, during and after pregnancy, and each bottle contains 120 tablets. The recommended daily dose is four tablets, and you’ll receive 800mcg of folate from each serving.

A major selling point for this product is the folate, which is a better form of folic acid. The ingredients in this product are designed to support your growing baby, and folate is very important during the earliest stages of pregnancy.

Unlike some alternative products, this supplement is made from organic cranberries, blueberries and oranges. Since the ingredients are processed in a way that optimizes the nutritional content, you get more out of every serving.

It’s not uncommon for prenatal supplements to leave women feeling nauseous, and MegaFood Baby & Me is designed for easier digestion, which prevents problems with nausea and upset stomach.

The combination of ingredients in every bottle is perfect for pregnant women, and since 1973, MegaFood has been a well-known supplier of high-quality supplements.

Where to Get It: Buy it on Amazon for about $32

Garden of Life Vegetarian Prenatal Multivitamin Supplement

Here we have the Garden of Life vegetarian prenatal supplement, and you get 180 capsules per bottle. This product is ideal for women who’re pregnant, and it’s specifically formulated for the nutritional needs of pregnant women.

The ingredients in each capsule are made from whole foods, which is why they’re healthier than synthetic alternatives. The nutrients provided by this supplement are great for your body, and they’re just as important for your baby.

The Garden of Life prenatal vitamin supplement contains zinc, vitamin D, ginger and probiotics, and these ingredients help to improve digestive health.

Since this is a multivitamin, you get several essentials vitamins, and with extra iron, each capsule helps to support optimal heart and blood health. This product is ideal for vegetarians because it doesn’t contain gluten or dairy, and it’s also free of fillers and binders.

Where to Get It: Buy it on Amazon for about $42

Thorne Research Basic Prenatal Folate

The Thorne Research Basic Prenatal is a complete dietary supplement, and it’s specifically designed for pregnant women. Each bottle contains 90 capsules, and the daily recommended dosage is three capsules, but you always have the option of taking one or two.

The ingredients in each capsule are absorbed easily by your body, and with high bioavailability, they’re less likely to cause upset stomach. For the best results, this product contains the bioactive form of folate, and it delivers enough iron to keep your baby healthy.

The iron picolinate in each capsule is easy on the stomach, and your body doesn’t have to work too hard to absorb it. The Thorne Research Basic prenatal supplement delivers the active forms of folic acid, and the ratio of these ingredients is perfectly balanced.

Since this product doesn’t contain peanuts, egg, soy, corn, dairy, artificial colors or binders, it’s one of the best prenatal supplements available, and you also don’t have to worry about harmful GMOs.

Where to Get It: Buy it on Amazon for about $52

New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Vitamins Fermented with Probiotics

Here we have another popular prenatal vitamin for women, and you get 192 tablets in each bottle. A standard serving consists of three tablets and provides a wealth of nutrients for your body.

This product is ideal for women who’re looking for organic supplements, and the ingredients are extracted from whole foods, which makes for a much healthier formula.

The ingredients in each tablet support optimal health for baby and contain a large amount of folate. Each tablet is designed for easy, comfortable digestion, and you can take it on an empty stomach.

The New Chapter Perfect Prenatal supplement is one of the first products to be made with organic herbs and vegetables, and since it doesn’t contain harmful GMOs, it might be a great product for your needs.

Where to Get It: Buy it on Amazon for about $48

Deva Vegan Vitamins Prenatal Multivitamins

If you’re looking for a vegetarian product, the Deva Vegan Vitamins prenatal multivitamin is worth considering, and it’s specifically formulated for vegetarian women.

By taking this vitamin during pregnancy, you can reduce the risk of complications and keep your baby healthy. This supplement is certified by the Vegan Society, and you get 90 tablets in each bottle.

A single serving is one tablet, and with over 15 essential vitamins and minerals, you can rest assured that your baby is getting the nutrition needed for healthy development.

For maximum results, this prenatal supplement is made with 138 percent of the DRA of folic acid, and since vegans have a difficult time getting enough B12, the Deva Vegan Vitamins prenatal formula contains plenty of it.

Where to Get It: Buy it on Amazon for about $11

Conclusion

Prenatal vitamins are great for pregnant women, and they’re just as useful for women who’re planning to conceive in the future. With the best prenatal supplements, you can make sure you’re getting enough folic acid and iron, which are the two major nutrients needed for optimal development.

By purchasing and consuming a high-quality prenatal supplement, you can reduce the risk of serious birth complications and enjoy healthier nails and hair.

What to read next: Best BCAA for Women – Top 5 for 2017