Which otc prenatal vitamin is best

These supplements also provide other nutrients you—and your growing baby—need. But the options are endless, with ingredients varying from brand to brand. The Forbes Health editorial team identified the 10 best prenatal vitamins for , considering factors like OB-GYN-recommended nutrients, price and dose instructions. Check out our top picks below.

All costs are averages based on prices found at three nationwide retailers when available and are accurate as of the publication date. It also includes vitamin B12, iron, choline, zinc and more. The product directions recommend taking one softgel a day, with food.

The company recommends taking one tablet daily, with or without food. Of note, it includes DHA, eicosapentaenoic acid EPA and choline, as well as folic acid micrograms of L-methylfolate , iron and calcium.

The company recommends taking one Actif Organic Prenatal Vitamin softgel daily. One downside: It requires a little more effort, as the company recommends taking two capsules daily with food. Additional standout nutrients include folic acid 1, micrograms of DFE , iron and zinc. The company recommends taking the two pills one softgel and one tablet with food. It includes 19 key nutrients like folate 1, of DFE , choline and zinc.

Meanwhile, this product aims to ease nausea, gas and constipation with its inclusion of ginger and vitamin B6. The company recommends taking one capsule daily. The company recommends taking one softgel a day with water and food for optimal absorption.

The company recommends taking one softgel daily with food. Dietary supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration FDA , and ingredients and their amounts may vary. Be sure to talk to your doctor before taking any supplement. A prenatal vitamin is a supplement designed to provide nutrients and minerals needed for a healthy pregnancy.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists ACOG notes taking a prenatal vitamin and eating nutritious foods should provide a person with all the vitamins and minerals they need during pregnancy. A prenatal vitamin is important for pregnant people, as the growing fetus requires certain nutrients that can be hard to get through diet alone.

ACOG recommends pregnant people consume certain amounts of calcium to help build strong bones and teeth, iron to help red blood cells deliver oxygen to the fetus, iodine and choline to aid in brain development, and folic acid to help prevent birth defects. 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. Getting the recommended amount of certain nutrients—especially folic acid—can be hard to do, even if you eat a healthy diet.

Let our editors know! Here are some of the most popular choices to consider when deciding on the best prenatal vitamin for you. Not to mention, you can probably find them at your local drugstore. They provide your full quota of folic acid, iron and vitamin D as well as other essential vitamins.

The bonus? You only have to take one soft gel capsule a day. These Nature Made vitamins are skimpy on calcium, with only mg. Okay, real talk: keeping anything down can be a major challenge for some parents-to-be. But some swear that vitamin gummies do the trick. Smarty Pants gummy vitamins come in lemon, orange and strawberry-banana flavors and have zero artificial colors, sweeteners, preservatives or high fructose corn syrup.

Ask your doctor if an additional supplement is necessary to get the iron and calcium needed during pregnancy. Though it does contain I. This brand has an independent seal of approval by NSF International, a third party that verifies supplements meet high quality and safety standards. You get the perfect amount of vitamin D and more than enough folic acid by taking the recommended two pills a day. With Babylist, you can add any item from any store onto ONE registry.

Start your registry today and get a Hello Baby Box full of free amazing! A spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down, but the Honest Co. Digestive enzymes derived from pineapple, papaya and kiwi, plus ginger and B6, help the pills better settle in a sensitive stomach too. These prenatals are full of vitamin D, iron and folic acid, as well as spirulina. They have many organic ingredients, and they can even be taken on an empty stomach.

Good prenatal care can reduce some health risks, and it can help you and your provider treat any problems early," says Benedict. Since the vitamins in these supplements are water-soluble, you'll simply pee away any excess. The only nutrient contained in these vitamins that you need to be concerned about taking too much of is iron — but when a prenatal vitamin contained iron, it's a balanced amount. According to the Mayo Clinic , pregnant women should get 30 mg per day. If you're anemic, discuss with your doctor whether you need to supplement this.

Since the FDA does not oversee the safety and efficacy of supplements, look for products that have been tested by a reliable third party, like USP or ConsumerLab. In addition to calcium, iron, and vitamin D, your prenatal vitamins should also include these key nutrients:. London recommends you look for a vitamin with mcg, adding that many supplements include more folic acid than necessary, especially when you consider that the vitamin is found in grains and enriched products like bread and cereal, so keep it to mcg or below.

The recommended amount is mg per day, but we typically only eat around mg of that — so supplements with at least mg choline are ideal during pregnancy and lactation. The best way to get these vital acids is through marine sources, including salmon, sardines, and herring.

Look for one with about mg per day. The AAP therefore recommends supplementing with mcg of iodine per day. These certified organic, non-GMO, vegan vitamins are made from whole-food ingredients including guava, basil and beet. They are packed with folic acid, iron and iodine, but you'll need to add on your own DHA and choline. This well-rounded vitamin is also low-priced and verified by USP. You only need to take one per day, which is great if you have a hard time swallowing pills. While not specifically marketed as prenatal, these have almost everything you need at an extremely wallet-friendly price.

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