B vitamins, including folate: Your body needs eight different B vitamins. During pregnancy, your needs for these nutrients increase. Most prenatal supplements include all eight B vitamins, but some include only a few. At a minimum, a prenatal should include B12, folate, and B6. Hollis BW, Johnson D, Hulsey TC, Ebeling M, Wagner CL. Vitam Prenatal Essentials Chewable was formulated based on the enzymatic pathways involved in pregnancy and genetic development. Enzymes in these pathways require specific nutrients as cofactors. Arguably the most important of these nutrients are folate and B12 in their most superior, bioavailable forms. Without them, the fetus cannot effectively develop or express its genetics. †

But Take Note: While high in most minerals, note it is lower in calcium. The iron amount is right at the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL), so if you eat a varied diet or take other supplements with iron, it could be too high in iron for your needs. True Folate: Folate is provided as L-5-MTHF (methylfolate) and folinic acid (a methyl-free form). These bioavailable forms are readily recognized and utilized by your body. True folate is required for proper methylation in both you and baby. It supports healthy gene expression, spine and brain development, and DNA/RNA synthesis. † Iron is not added to any of our prenatals. This makes it easy to customize your intake by supplementing separately with a gentle form of iron. All our Seeking Health prenatal vitamins are gluten-free. †Vetting: All the supplements on our list have been vetted to ensure they align with Healthline’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. You can read more about our vetting process. Nature Made Prenatal Multivitamin contains 800 micrograms of folic acid, which is the recommended form of folate supplementation by the CDC. However, this synthetic form is considered an inactive form and must be converted to the active form to be absorbed and used by the body. Some individuals may prefer the readily absorbable methylated forms of folate, particularly those with the MTHFR gene variants that inhibits the conversion process of folic acid. Iron: Iron needs increase during pregnancy. However, as iron intake varies greatly from person to person, iron should ideally be supplemented separately based on iron levels . Dawodu A, et al. (2019). The effect of high-dose postpartum maternal vitamin D supplementation alone compared with maternal plus infant vitamin D supplementation in breastfeeding infants in a high-risk population. A randomized controlled trial. It is recommended not to exceed 1,500 mcg (5,000 IU) intake per day of preformed vitamin A (retinol or retinyl forms).

For example, deficiencies in vitamin D, vitamin B12, and folate can affect your ability to become pregnant. We support supplements that are evidence-based and rooted in science. We value certain product attributes that we find to be associated with the highest quality products. We prioritize products that are third-party tested and certified by one of three independent, third-party certifiers: USP, NSF, or ConsumerLab.com. Additionally, some physicians recommend continuing a prenatal vitamin post-pregnancy, especially if breastfeeding, to meet increased nutritional needs during lactation. It is important to note that some nutritional needs differ from pregnancy to postpartum. For example, iron needs increase to 27 milligrams per day during pregnancy, but drop to 18 milligrams for non-pregnant people and 9 milligrams for those that are breastfeeding. So, if you are choosing a prenatal for postpartum, consider one with lower iron. Enter: prenatal vitamins. They’re an easy way to fill any gaps and support both your body and your baby’s growth and development.It’s a good idea to invest in a multivitamin that contains calcium, which helps ensure you don’t lose bone density during pregnancy, and vitamin c, which encourages cell production. Avoid vitamin A Ironically, the artificial version of folate that is often prescribed to pregnant women, called folic acid, can slow the MTHFR gene even more. Folic acid is never included in any of Seeking Health’s dietary supplements. Instead, we use natural and bioavailable forms, including 5-MTHF (methylated) and methyl-free folinic acid (calcium folinate). † Cirillo M, et al. (2021). 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and vitamin B12 supplementation is associated with clinical pregnancy and live birth in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology. You can also get more folic acid into your diet through eating lots of green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, fortified cereals, and citrus fruits, but it’s difficult to get all the folic acid you need from food alone, so it’s worth taking a supplement too. Vitamin D is manufactured in facilities that adhere to current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs) established by the FDA