Prenatal Multivitamins

Most pregnant women strive for healthy diet and lifestyle, but sometimes nutritional gaps still exist, and supplements need to be added. Rich on folic acid, iron, and calcium, prenatal multivitamins can be key for supporting fetal development and a healthy pregnancy. Many brands are marketed to this effect, but are they all equal in their purported benefits? What prenatal multivitamin do you use? Could you tell us why?

Nature Made Prenatal Multi + DHA

Before and during my pregnancies, I used Nature Made prenatal multivitamins with DHA, which is an omega-3 fatty acid that plays an important role in fetal brain and eye development. The liquid softgels also contain

Nature Made Prenatal Multi + DHA

• 800 mg folic acid (which may reduce the risk of brain and spinal cord defects)
• iron (for red blood cell formation; also note that a woman’s iron consumption needs nearly double during pregnancy)
• calcium and vitamin D3 (for strong bones)
• vitamins A, C, and D with zinc (for immune system support)
• vitamins C and E (antioxidants)
• B vitamins (for cell energy production)
• no gluten, starch, yeast, artificial flavors, preservatives, and added colors

This Nature Made multivitamin is inexpensive and contains all the vitamins a pregnant woman and her child might need. Don’t forget, however, to take this multivitamin with food.

Amazon.com price: $0.10/count.

A number of my friends, independent of my recommendation, also use Nature Made prenatal multivitamins with DHA. But although Nature Made is a proven, reputable brand, other brands are now receiving even greater attention from mothers-to-be. Below are Amazon.com’s current top three sellers in the prenatal multivitamin category.

Rainbow Light Prenatal One Multivitamin

Rainbow Light Prenatal Multivitamin

Rainbow Light is Amazon.com’s current best-selling natural multivitamin. It is free of

• gluten
• dairy/lactose and other animal products
• soy
• yeast
• fish/shellfish
• nuts
• artificial colors, flavors, sugar, sweeteners, and preservatives

The best thing about it, however, are its ingredients:

• spirulina
• 800 mcg folic acid
• 30 mg iron
• B-complex for stress and energy
• calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D
• 90 million bioactive probiotics
• plant-source digestive enzymes
• ginger juice

It is gentle on the stomach and easy to absorb. You can take it with or between meals.

Those of you who are environmentally conscious would be delighted to know that Rainbow Light multivitamins are packaged in 100% recycled, 100% recyclable Ecoguard bottles that are BPA-free, lowering the carbon footprint by 92%.

Last but not least, the purchase of each bottle supports 10:1 donations to the worldwide Vitamin Angels Maternal Health Project, which aims to reduce mortality and morbidity rates, birth defects, and diseases caused by nutritional deficiencies.

Amazon.com price: $0.13/count.

Garden of Life Vitamin Code RAW Prenatal

Code RAW prenatal vitamins are high quality, nutrient rich, and, as the name suggests, raw (i.e., uncooked, untreated, and unadulterated). They are also

• vegetarian
• gluten free
• dairy free

Garden of Life Code Raw Prenatal Multivitamin

Just like most other prenatal multivitamins, Code RAW can aid fetal neural tube development by supplying

• 800 mcg of folic acid

To help support healthy digestion (which is hindered during pregnancy), the capsules contain

• probiotics
• ginger
• vitamin D
• zinc

To support healthy hearth and red blood cell formation, Code RAW multivitamins also contain

• iron 
• vitamins C, E, and B-complex

These multivitamins are easy to digest, but remember to take them three times a day.

Amazon.com price: $0.23/count.

New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Multivitamin

New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Multivitamin

New Chapter Perfect prenatal multivitamins are also gaining popularity because they are

• gluten free
• certified organic
• non-GMO project verified
• vegetarian
• kosher

and contain

• organic vegetables (broccoli, kale, and other cruciferous sprouts), fruit, and herbs
• whole-food folate and other vitamins and minerals
• probiotic cultures

You can take New Chapter Perfect prenatal multivitamins on an empty stomach since they are non-synthetic and can be easily absorbed.

Amazon.com price: $0.26/count.

Search for other prenatal vitamins and many more useful items at the Stork Wish Store.