Prenatal Recommendations?

Kaessi · June 2016

Anyone have anything they really like? My doctor basically told me anything over the counter is fine, and I've tried quite a few, but haven't really come to a conclusion that one is better than another. Has anyone researched & determined any to be better?

annabenanna · June 2016

Kaessi, I really love the new chapter brand. "perfect prenatal multi vitamin". You still need to take dha.. But I really like that it has a probiotic added. It helps so much with constipation

kelliott09 · June 2016

I've looked up the ingredients in an OTC brand versus a rx brand. They're nearly identical. My dr has always told me the OTC was fine but a nurse practioner I saw early in this pregnancy wanted me to take the rx so I looked it up. Nearly identical and $4 for 100 versus $10 a month. Not that either were going to break the bank but why pay more for the same thing?

ashleymn-2 · June 2016

https://labdoor.com/rankings/prenatal-vitamins
I found this helpful when I was choosing a prenatal^
I'm going to be honest I went ahead and went with Nature Made with DHA because it's sold everywhere. It doesn't make me sick and i haven't experienced any constipation. Rainbow light was another one I liked but the store that sells it near me just closed down.

UponAStar16 · June 2016

I've been taking Vitafol OB + DHA, which is by prescription. I have good Rx coverage but it's slightly inconvenient to have to take on an empty stomach (at least 1 hour before or 2-3 hrs after eating) and I don't think it helped my MS earlier on (although most people seemed to be reporting this whether rx or store brand). I would suggest taking quickly before you taste or smell it, but that doesn't really even bother me now. A few times I rotated with the Target store brand prenatal gummies, which smell slightly fishy but taste good...I don't think it has iron and maybe some other important ingredients too.

vcabbyw · June 2016

Prenatals are something that are kind of subjective IMO. Theres no perfect prenatal. Theres so many options and not everyone's diets and nutritional needs are equal. Some people have a MTHFR gene mutation. Blah blah blah. Plus there was that study about overdoses in folic acid linked to autism, not so sure how I feel about that but interesting none the less.

I also have some distrust of vitamins in big box stores not actually containing the ingredients it states. And trying to find a vitamin that has whole food sources as much as possible vs synthetic, is important to me.

So I put this choice into the hands of my naturopath (former midwife, now also my doula lol) and did some research. I used rainbow lite petites w my last pregnancy due to the size and not being able to swallow. My hospital midwife didn't have suggestions.

This is time I'm using Seeking Health optimum prenatals. I still supplement with fish oils for dha omegas (I hate fish), vitamin D (I'm deficient) and transdermal magnesium. Plus healthy full fats and I am starting to drink a red raspberry leaf/nettle loose leaf tea. They are also in capsule form so I can swallow them, big bonus for me. My naturopath wanted to make sure I took a natural form of folate acid and not synthetic folic acid, which this has.

See how how you can get so many opinions?

Lauren0216 · June 2016

My doctor's office said that they are nearly identical too, with the exception of gummy prenatals. The gummy version does not allow for absorption of some specific type of vitamin (I forget what I was told by my Dr). Their biggest question is does it have enough folic acid. They said to do whatever is cheaper. Some insurances cover prenatals 100%. I take Nature Made Prenatal with DHA from Costco. They are really affordable. I also take 1 extra 400 mg folic acid each day with it. My office wants everyone to be getting 1000mg of folic acid daily. Do you take calcium too? I take 2 calcium gummies at night depending on how much dairy I've had throughout the day. I was told to take it at a different time than my prenatals because otherwise I won't absorb all the calcium.

Mintz1982 · June 2016

I take over the counter but make sure they say dye free. I take extra vitimin D and B because of my own allergy to the sun I don't get much D

NicholeL16 · June 2016

I use Garden of Life raw prenatals. They are food based. My midwife recommended them to me and they have been great. You can take them on an empty stomach.

waterfall213 · June 2016

I've been using Rainbow Light brand for years and love them.

Blonde1817 · June 2016

I've been taking the rainbow light prenatal one vitamin since before we started trying. It's affordable, it never makes me feel sick (I also take it at night), it has good ingredients, and you only need to take one a day. I get them at Target. I once made the mistake of buying some vitamins that I thought were cheaper and I realized later that you have to take like 2 of them 3x daily. Wtf?! Ain't nobody got time for that! And some of the samples of prescription prenatals made me nauseous.

mrsdj19 · June 2016

I take the Garden of Life Vitamin Code RAW Prenatals + Garden of Life Oceans 3 Oceans Mom, Prenatal DHA. Only thing with the prenatals is you have to take it 3 times per day, the DHA is only 1 time per day. But I've been taking both for a couple years while TTC so I'm used to it now.

NoraAurora · June 2016

Ashleymn said:

https://labdoor.com/rankings/prenatal-vitamins
I found this helpful when I was choosing a prenatal^
I'm going to be honest I went ahead and went with Nature Made with DHA because it's sold everywhere. It doesn't make me sick and i haven't experienced any constipation. Rainbow light was another one I liked but the store that sells it near me just closed down.

+1 for Labdoor as a reference for ALL supplements. Another for garden of life raw prenatal. And I use Nordic naturals prenatal DHA, as babies need a different ratio of DHA:EPA than do adults.

TNlove1027 · June 2016

I'm on the list as well for the Garden of Life Raw prenatals! I'm not at all crunchy, and I don't even buy primarily organic groceries, but they came very highly recommended being solely food and plant based (even the coating...and you can open them to mix the granules in food or drink), and they have folate instead of the synthetic folic acid, and for baby I just wanted an excellent prenatal (you can look up reviews on Amazon). I just have to add in a DHA supplement (Nordic Naturals I believe). They are 3x/day prenatals, but I FREQUENTLY forget either the morning or lunchtime dose and I've never had an issue doubling up a dose, even right before bed. They do smell in the bottle since "natural/raw" things tend to, but that goes away as you get used to them.

mothernorth · June 2016

I like the Vitafusion prenatal gummies, but you need to take a separate iron supplement with those.

coffee89 · June 2016

I did the gummy prenatals with DS and skipped the iron because I was eating well and had no issues come up with blood work.

This time around I used them up until last night when I grabbed the Rainbow light pills that are supposed to be easy on your stomach (they have iron) and so far so good. I made the switch because I know I'm not eating balanced enough to be getting the right amount of iron.

coffee89 · June 2016

Also I just remembered that you should be watching your calcium. I'm taking tums all day so I don't worry about getting dairy in, but it is something that isn't in most vitamins because it can cause issues with absorption.

mrszoess · June 2016

I get whatever is sent to me in my pillpack (most
amqzing pharmacy ever) and then 2 400mg folic and 2000iu of d.

LGW2015 · June 2016

Same as PPs I take the vitafusion gummy. The doctor didn't care what kind I took, she said they're all fine. I don't take an iron supplement because I heard it can upset your stomach and I haven't had any issues with my bloodworm either. I do have to make sure to get enough calcium though. I asked the doctor and she said just make sure to get 3 servings of dairy a day (cheese, glass of milk, etc) so that's what I try to do! She said when in doubt pop a couple tums.

ammiddleton3 · June 2016

I've also been taking the Garden of Life RAW Prenatal.

emt87 · June 2016

Count me as one more for Garden of Life RAW Prenatal and Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA. You do have to take 3 of the prenatal a day, but I usually take all 3 in the evening without any problems.

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