If you’re here then you’ve probably Google’d about: the best prenatal vitamins to take while pregnant.
A Quick Look At The Best Prenatal Vitamins
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Keep reading to see our picks of the 10 best prenatal vitamins.
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In is a supplement designed to provide nutrients and minerals needed for a healthy pregnancy. “Fetal development is rapid and requires a lot of metabolism—it’s dependent on the proper amount of amino acids and nutrients,” says James Grifo, M.D., the program director at NYU Langone Fertility Center in New York City and chief executive physician at Inception Fertility.
Additionally, it recommends vitamins A, B6, B12, C and D, which provide benefits that range from promoting healthy skin and eyesight to the formation of red blood cells. While much of these nutrients can be obtained through a healthy diet, a prenatal vitamin provides the extra assurance your daily nutrition needs are met, no matter what’s on the menu. Getting the recommended amount of certain nutrients—especially folic acid—can be hard to do, even if you eat a healthy diet.
For example, ACOG recommends pregnant people consume 600 micrograms of folic acid daily during pregnancy to help prevent brain and spinal birth defects.
The Right Picks To Take You Through Your Pregnancy Journey
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Nutrient needs are increased during pregnancy to support the growth and development of the fetus while also supporting the health of the mother. It is important to make sure prenatal supplements have been tested by third-party labs and offer maximum transparency to consumers. The number of vitamins and minerals in these supplements are safe and appropriate when trying to conceive, during pregnancy, and postpartum while you are breastfeeding.
In addition to purity tests and transparency, it is important to consider the amounts of key prenatal nutrients—such as calcium, vitamin d, iron, folate, and choline—that the supplement contains in each dose.
Do You Need Prenatal Vitamins?
“Prenatal vitamins are important before and during pregnancy to help your body meet the demands of pregnancy and aid in your baby’s development,” says Dr. Nwankwo. “Your balanced diet should be the foundation of your nutritional vitamins.
For example, they contain folic acid, which is important for baby’s brain development in the earliest stages. And many have vitamin D and calcium to build strong bones and teeth during the third trimester of pregnancy. Plus, prenatal vitamins help make sure you have enough nutrients such as iron, to not only provide to your baby but so your own body doesn’t become depleted.