One last thing before diving in: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate supplements for safety or effectiveness, and there’s a lot of talk in the supplement (and general nutrition) world about the definitions of terms like “organic” and the effectiveness of products like probiotics. While it’s clear that doctors recommend a solid prenatal vitamin with the vitamins and minerals mentioned for the healthiest pregnancies possible, companies may choose to add other optional elements to their prenatals that may or may not have actual proven health benefits. If you want to—and can—go for a prenatal with all the bells and whistles, great! But choosing not to or not being able to afford to doesn’t automatically mean anything negative, either.
1. A budget-friendly prenatal vitamin
Yes, many prenatal vitamins (including some below) can come with a hefty price tag. But the Up & Up prenatals are a fantastic lower-cost option that meet the daily pregnancy requirements for vitamin D, iron, folic acid, and much more. And you only need to take one tablet a day.
2. A gummy prenatal vitamin
Prefer a prenatal vitamin that tastes good? These may be some of the best prenatal gummies for that need. They come in lemon and raspberry lemonade flavors and help you to meet 100% of all major nutrients that support a healthy pregnancy.
3. An organic prenatal vitamin
If you are on the hunt for a vegan and organic prenatal that does not contain any synthetic binders or fillers, there are a few options to consider, but we like the Garden of Life Prenatal Vitamins. They pack in 21 essential vitamins and minerals, as well as organic ginger and peppermint, which may help ease any symptoms of nausea.
4. A prenatal vitamin with choline
According to 2019 Nutrients research, many prenatal vitamins lack choline, and less than 10% of pregnant women are getting enough of it. Choline intake is important as the nutrient supports tissue expansion, brain development, and gene expression in fetuses. So if you are seeking a prenatal that packs this key ingredient, this formula combines probiotics, vitamins, and of course, 300 milligrams of choline.
5. A liquid prenatal vitamin
If swallowing pills is a challenge, you can mix these liquids into your beverage of choice, like your morning smoothie or juice. (Bear in mind, liquid prenatal supplements tend to be on the expensive side, especially since you’ve got 9+ months to be taking it, and one bottle is only 32 servings!)
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6. A great all-around prenatal vitamin
Rainbow Light’s Prenatal One vitamin provides probiotics and enzymes, as well as more than 20 essential vitamins and minerals—this one also has choline, as well as calcium. This is an awesome prenatal to take if you have trouble remembering to take a vitamin multiple times per day.
7. A plant-based prenatal vitamin
Not all prenatal vitamins are compatible with a vegan or even a vegetarian diet (sometimes, the way vitamins are made contains animal by-products), but Mary Ruth’s Vegan Prenatal is. This supplement includes vitamin D3, iron, folate, B12, selenium, as well as a suite of probiotics!
8. A solo folic acid option
Since folate (and its synthetic form, folic acid) are the crowning jewels in the prenatal vitamin crown, you might opt to stick with your regular multivitamin (if you have one) and add on an additional folate supplement before you begin trying to conceive. This supplement contains 800 micrograms of folate. “Some women cannot process folic acid efficiently—and they may not know that—so I generally recommend vitamins that contain folate,” Dr. Samuel says.
9. A subscription prenatal vitamin
10. A personalized prenatal vitamin pack
After an extensive questionnaire about your conception goals, fitness, diet, sleep, and more, Care/Of will recommend a custom vitamin pack for you, which can include their own prenatal formula as well as any other supplementary vitamins their algorithm thinks you might benefit from. They’ll also give you a brief rundown of the research around how well each pill in your pack might work, and offer a subscription option to have your choices come automatically.
11. A chewable prenatal vitamin
These chewable vitamins are great for those who struggle with swallowing large capsules. It also packs a well-rounded formula. For instance, it contains vitamin B6, which may help ease pregnancy nausea woes.
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Source: SELF
