Prenatal Vitamins: What to Look For

Choosing a prenatal vitamin can be daunting, as there are a wide variety of brands and types of prenatal vitamins out there. It can be hard to know exactly what nutrients are the most important to focus on when evaluating vitamins. Prenatal vitamins can really run the gamut from bare bones to very comprehensive. The foundation should be a healthy nutrient dense diet, but most people have gaps in their diet at times and fertility and pregnancy often require additional nutrients. Here are some of the most important attributes to look for when shopping for a prenatal vitamin:

• Contains 150 mcg iodine. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends taking a prenatal vitamin with 150 mcg of iodine, as iodine is important for thyroid function, which affects baby’s brain development. A full one-third of women of pregnant women don’t get enough iodine.
• Contains at least 27 mg iron to support red blood cell production and prevent anemia.
• Has vitamins A, C, and E, which are antioxidants and may support egg quality.
• Rich in B-vitamins that support ovulation.
• Purity-tested EPA/DHA (fish oil) to support egg quality, reduce inflammation, and support baby’s brain development and vision.
• Contains 1000-2000 IU Vitamin D to support bone health and IVF success.
• Contains choline, which may prevent neural tube defects along with folate/folic acid.
• Contains at least 600-1000 mcg folic acid or methylfolate (the active form of folate) to prevent neural tube defects.
• Free of colorants, unnecessary allergens, additives, and preservatives.

At Pulling Down the Moon, we carry 2 different prenatal vitamins that have all of the attributes above, but some key differences from each other. The Prenatal Vitamin Packet is a really comprehensive prenatal vitamin to take during pregnancy. The Supplement Packet with Prenatal Vitamin provides extra support for fertility patients with 100 mg CoQ10 and 2000 IU vitamin D and is designed to be taken while trying to conceive.