Why Are Prenatal Vitamins Important?

Lori Bray-Levinsohn, CHHC

Folic Acid and Iron

Folic acid and iron are two of the most important nutrients that prenatal vitamins provide pregnant mothers. During pregnancy, your body needs more folic acid and iron than usual, and both are crucial for the health and development of your growing baby. Folic acid helps to prevent neural tube defects (abnormalities in the fetal brain and spinal cord). If you could become pregnant, or if you’re actively planning and trying to become pregnant, doctors recommend you start a folic acid supplement early. Ideally, you’ll have been taking extra folic acid for at least three months before you become pregnant. If not, start as soon as you learn that you’re pregnant. Iron is crucial because it helps support the development of your placenta and the fetus. Your body needs iron to make more blood, which delivers oxygen to the developing fetus. Iron is also critical for preventing anemia. All of the best prenatal vitamins contain both folate and iron – check the label to make sure that you’re getting the right amount.

What to Look for in Prenatal Vitamins

Along with folic acid and iron, your prenatal vitamin should also contain calcium, vitamin D, DHA, and iodine. It’s often a good idea to find a supplement that also contains additional vitamins and nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, B vitamins, and zinc. Along with checking for those ingredients, holistic-minded mamas who want the confidence of knowing that they’re choosing the best prenatal vitamin from trusted brands can use this checklist to ensure they’re picking a reputable brand:
  1. Does it have a clean label? Clean label products are ones that use as few unnecessary or filler ingredients as possible. Generally, clean label products prioritize formulations that are simple, natural, and minimally processed.
  2. Is it additive free? Additive free supplements do not contain any chemical additives.
  3. Is it third-party tested? The best prenatal vitamins provide third party testing for their products. Third party testing results can objectively demonstrate the potency, purity, and safety of a prenatal supplement product. Look for brands who provide third party testing on any supplement they sell.

Folate vs. Folic Acid

Folate is another name for vitamin B9, one of the most crucial nutrients that developing babies need to be healthy. Folate can be found in a number of food sources, like dark leafy greens, beans, peas, nuts, citrus fruits, bananas, melons, and strawberries. Folic acid is simply the synthesized form of folate, the kind that you’ll find in fortified breakfast cereal, pasta, or in prenatal supplements. Your prenatal supplement may list folic acid in its ingredient list, or you may see it in the form of L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate. Both folic acid and L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate are both considered safe, effective, and bioavailable. However, L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate offers some additional advantages: for individuals with certain genetic mutations, this form of folate may be easier to absorb. And in general, it’s well-absorbed even in the presence of metabolic defects or when there are alterations in the gastrointestinal tract’s pH. For a comprehensive prenatal supplement that uses L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, try Megafood Baby & Me Prenatal Multi Minis. Baby & Me Prenatal Multi Minis from Megafood supports optimal nutrition for mom and developing baby before and during pregnancy with key nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, choline, methylated folate, and real food like organic oranges and broccoli.

Iron Type

Iron is one of the most important nutrients that a prenatal supplement helps provide. You’ll find different forms of iron depending on the supplement: these could include ferrous sulfate, iron bisglycinate, ferrous gluconate, ferric saccharate, iron glycinate, and more. If you have a sensitive stomach or are experiencing morning sickness, choosing a prenatal vitamin with a gentler form of iron can help: ferrous gluconate, ferrous bisglycinate, and iron glycinate are all forms that tend to be easier on queasy stomachs. For a great complete prenatal vitamin that contains all of the nutrients you need for a healthy pregnancy (with ferrous bisglycinate to take care of your iron needs), try NOW Foods Prenatal Gels + DHA. Prenatal Gels + DHA also come packed with 250 mg. of DHA per serving to support healthy eye and brain development. Or, for a comprehensive prenatal vitamin with easily digestible, readily absorbed iron glycinate, try Metagenics Fem Prenatal. Fem Prenatal from Metagenics provides gentle vitamin and mineral support for pregnant women. Each convenient packet contains the important nutrition every pregnant woman needs, including folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B12, vitamin E, and many more. Whatever your unique nutritional needs may be, before, during, or after pregnancy, shop for vitamins and supplements to help your health journey from Natural Healthy Concepts.
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About the Author

Lori Bray-Levinsohn, CHHC

Lori Bray-Levinsohn, CHHC, is a Certified Holistic Health Coach and received her Certificate from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN). At IIN, she studied dietary theories, contemporary health issues and topics, and Eastern and Western nutrition with some of the world’s top health and wellness experts. While recognizing each client’s bio-individuality, Lori works with people, helping them discover their primary & secondary nutrition choices as they create a healthier lifestyle.

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