Pregnancy is a beautiful time. It’s a transformation for a woman to mother and couple to parents. It is one of the biggest changes for anyone’s life. During this period of rapid change and growth within the woman’s body and fetus there are increased nutritional needs, as the woman is now “eating for two”. The increased nutritional needs are due to the physiological changes that the mother is undergoing and the metabolic demands of the growing fetus. It is not only important to have a proper diet and nutrition during pregnancy, but it is vital for the health of the mother and for the healthy development of baby during pregnancy and into adulthood. As there are increased needs from the body, it is not always possible to meet all of the body’s needs just through food alone, which is why so many doctors recommend Prenatal Vitamins.

Pregnancy is a crucial developmental period for the fetus and specific nutrient deficiencies have been linked to the development of congenital abnormalities and birth defects in babies. Also if the fetus is undernourished in gestation, it has been linked to being more susceptible to chronic diseases in adulthood, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Additionally prenatal supplements can also help to improve the mother’s health by directly treating any pregnancy related illnesses or by indirectly lowering the risk of any complication during labor and delivery.

Most Important Prenatal Vitamins

  • Folate: The vitamin that is most often linked with pregnancy is folate or folic acid. Whenever a woman is thinking of getting pregnant, doctors will most likely recommend that she start taking prenatal vitamins that contain folate or folic acid. folate is a B vitamins and women who take prenatal vitamins that contain folate or Folic Acid, before and during pregnancy reduce the risk that their baby will be born with a neural tube defect. A neural tube defect is considered something that interferes with the baby’s development before he or she is born. The most serious and common neural tube defects are when the baby’s spine does not develop properly leading to Spina Bifida or when the baby’s brain and skull does not develop properly leading to Anencephaly. Foods that contain folate include dark green veggies such as broccoli and spinach, liver, beans and whole grains. However, getting enough folate acid from food sources alone is difficult and it is recommended to take vitamins that contain folate.  This is why it is imperative that a woman who is pregnant or trying to conceive takes prenatal vitamins that have at least 600 micro-grams of folate in them.
  • Iron: Iron is also a crucial nutrient during pregnancy and for proper development of the fetus. When women become pregnant their body starts increasing the amount of blood being produced until they have almost twice as much as normal. When there is increased blood, your body requires more iron for all the extra blood. You also need more iron for your growing baby and placenta. Iron is essential for delivering oxygen to the baby and helps to prevent iron deficiency in the mother. Iron has also been shown to help prevent premature delivery. Food sources that contain iron include chicken, turkey, fish, beef, beans, dried fruit and liver.
  • Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Pregnant women are usually low in Omega-3 Fatty acids. When you are pregnant, you need more omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Omega-3 fatty acids travel through your placenta to your baby, and support the growth of your baby’s brain and tissues. Food sources that contain omega 3 fatty acids are fish and eggs. Fish is an important source of omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients like vitamin D, zinc and iron. Studies suggest that regular consumption of fish helps the development of your growing baby’s nervous system. If However if you don’t eat fish or foods that are high in omega 3 fatty acids you will need a prenatal vitamin that also includes omega 3 fatty acids.
  • Calcium & Vitamin D: We all know that Calcium is needed for building strong and healthy bones. Calcium is crucial during pregnancy to build healthy bones, teeth, heart, muscles and nerves in the developing fetus. If there is a deficiency of calcium in the women’s diet during pregnancy, the body will take the calcium needed for the baby’s development directly from the mother’s bones. Calcium deficiency during pregnancy is linked to increases in osteoporosis in later life for the woman. Vitamin D is needed to help in the absorption of calcium by the body. If the woman is deficient in Vitamin D during pregnancy it puts the baby at risk for growth retardation and skeletal deformities. As you can see Calcium and Vitamin D are essential nutrients during pregnancy for proper development of the baby and for proper maternal health. Which is why it is important to ensure that prenatal vitamins have these essential nutrients.

What Are The Best Prenatal Vitamins?

A good prenatal vitamins should have the above mentioned vitamins and minerals. But the Best Prenatal Vitamins contain the above mentioned vitamins and minerals and in addition to that they use all natural ingredients and do not contain any artificial additives or preservatives.

Rainbow Light Prenatal One Multivitamin

Rainbow Light Prenatal One Multivitamin contains all the essential nutrients needed during pregnancy for mother and baby. It is made with optimal potency of each vitamin to provide nourishment and protection. It has high levels of the vitamin B complexes to provide natural energy and promote cell development and immune support while helping to reduce stress. It is made with all wholesome all natural ingredients to provide nutrition and energy while also helping with providing comfort with digestion with it’s easy to digest formula. It is also certified vegan and does not contain gluten, soy, yeast, milk, eggs, nuts, fish or shellfish. It is wheat free, sugar free, diary free, lactose free and yeast free. It is also 100% natural and contains no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives or other additives.

Deva Vegan Prenatal Multivitamin & Mineral

For women who are vegetarian or vegan it is often difficult to find the right multivitamins. But the Deva Vegan Prenatal Multivitamin is perfect for such women. It is certified vegan and all-natural, taking care of all expecting women out there. Free of GMOs, yeast, wheat, gluten, milk, sugar, salt, starch, preservatives, artificial flavors or dyes; animal products, byproducts or derivatives.

Childlife Prenatal DHA

DHA is a form of the much needed Omega 3 Fatty Acids. As mentioned above DHA is critical in prenatal care. It is important for healthy brain and eye development of the baby during pregnancy and after birth. DHA helps to support healthy birth weight. Childlife Prenatal DHA is made using only the highest quality ingredients. The formula is gluten free, casein free, alcohol free. It contains no milk, eggs, soy, wheat, yeast or corn. It is free of artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners.

Pregnancy is a life changing journey and to ensure you have the best pregnancy possible it is important to take the best prenatal vitamins. We’re here for all your natural vitamins and mineral needs, especially during pregnancy! Share your favorite Prenatal Vitamins in the comments below. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook!