Whether you’re trying to conceive, expecting, or already rocking the mom life, taking care of yourself is super important. When it comes to nurturing you and your little bundle of joy, prenatal vitamins make a world of difference.
When to Use Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins benefit women’s health throughout motherhood, during pre-conception, pregnancy, postpartum, and while breastfeeding.
Preconception: Laying the Foundation
When you’re ready to start your family, it’s time to prepare your body for pregnancy. OB-GYNs recommend taking a prenatal vitamin as soon as you start trying to get pregnant if not earlier.
Prenatal vitamins are like the superheroes of this phase, making sure you have all the essential nutrients even before you conceive. Folate’s superpower is preventing certain neural tube defects. The nutrient choline is strongly associated with supporting neural development in early pregnancy.
Pregnancy: Nourishing You and Your Baby
During pregnancy, your body goes through incredible transformations to support your little miracle’s growth. This is when prenatal vitamins become your trusty sidekicks. They bridge any nutritional gaps in your diet and ensure your baby’s healthy development.
Along with methylated folate, look for a prenatal vitamin that includes choline, iron, vitamin D3, vitamin B12, and vitamin K2 at a minimum. They’re a powerful team, taking care of both your baby’s well-being and yours!
Postpartum: Replenishing and Recovering
After the magical moment of childbirth, your body deserves some well-deserved R&R. If you’re breastfeeding, your nutritional needs remain high to nourish your little one. That’s where continuing to take prenatal vitamins comes in handy. They replenish the nutrients your body used up during pregnancy and childbirth, giving you the energy and stamina to be an awesome mom!
Lactation and Breastfeeding: A Nutrient-Packed Adventure
Breast milk is a liquid miracle for your baby, providing them with all the essential nutrients they need to grow and boost their immune system. And guess what? Prenatal vitamins play a starring role in this adventure, too! They ensure your milk is packed with vital nutrients while also taking care of your well-being. Talk about a win-win situation!
Get The Full Benefit Of Prenatal Vitamins
As you navigate the world of fertility and pregnancy and research prenatal vitamins, you may come across the term bioavailability and wonder, “What is bioavailability?”
Bioavailability describes how well your body absorbs and uses the nutrients you consume. When it comes to choosing a prenatal vitamin, a nutrient with high bioavailability is one your body can easily absorb and use, which means you get the maximum benefit.
Bioavailability and Prenatal Vitamins
Think of bioavailability as your own nutrient treasure hunt. You want to find those gems of readily absorbed nutrients that your body can snatch up and put to good use. It’s like giving your body a VIP pass to the most exclusive nutrient party!
Our goal is to help you make the best decision for your body and your growing baby when eyeing the nutrient labels for prenatal vitamins. Let’s explore key nutrients commonly found in prenatal vitamins, their bioavailability, and the sources from which they are derived, so you can make the right choice before, during, and after pregnancy.
Folate or Folic Acid
Folate and folic acid are often used interchangeably. While they are both Vitamin B9, they’re not exactly the same thing. Folate is the naturally occurring form of this essential B vitamin found in foods, while folic acid is the synthetic version commonly used in supplements and fortified foods.
Folate has higher bioavailability since it is already in the active form that your body can absorb and utilize. Folic acid, on the other hand, requires conversion into its active form, methylfolate, before it can be effectively used by your body. Some individuals have genetic variations, like MTHFR, that make this conversion less efficient, leading to lower bioavailability of folic acid compared to methylated folate in these individuals.
- Opt for a prenatal vitamin that contains methylated folate rather than folic acid.
Vitamin D
When your skin is exposed to sunlight, your body naturally produces vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), which is highly bioavailable. However, dietary sources and supplements can provide either vitamin D3 or vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). Vitamin D3 has been found to have superior bioavailability and is more effective at raising blood levels of vitamin D compared to vitamin D2.
- Opt for a prenatal vitamin that includes Vitamin D3 and don’t forget to enjoy some sunshine.
Iron
Who knew there were so many forms of iron? Iron bisglycinate, compared to other forms of iron, such as ferrous sulfate or ferrous gluconate, is believed to have higher bioavailability. Iron bisglycinate is generally well-tolerated and less likely to cause gastrointestinal side effects like constipation and stomach upset, which are commonly associated with other iron supplements.
Iron bisglycinate has also been found to be less affected by dietary factors that hinder iron absorption, such as the presence of certain foods or medications. This further contributes to its superior absorbability, helping your body to efficiently utilize the iron.
- Opt for a prenatal that includes iron glycinate.
B Vitamins
Different forms of B vitamins have varying bioavailability. We’re going to use some big, fancy words here, but don’t worry, there won’t be a spelling test later!
Methylcobalamin, the active form of vitamin B12, has higher bioavailability compared to cyanocobalamin, a commonly used inexpensive synthetic form of B12. Similarly, pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P), the active form of vitamin B6, has superior bioavailability than pyridoxine. Choosing B vitamins in their active forms ensures optimal bioavailability and utilization by your body.
- Opt for active forms of B vitamins (methylcobalamin and pyridoxal-5-phosphate).
Prenatal Vitamins Support The Health Of You And Your Baby
Every woman and every pregnancy is unique. It’s always best to consult with your healthcare provider to determine the most suitable prenatal vitamin that meets your specific needs.
Premom is passionate about supporting you throughout your journey, from trying to conceive to enjoying a healthy pregnancy to motherhood and beyond. We are proud to provide female doctor formulated prenatal vitamins and supplements with superior quality, purity, potency.
References
- Adams, J.B., Kirby, J.K., Sorensen, J.C. et al. Evidence based recommendations for an optimal prenatal supplement for women in the US: vitamins and related nutrients. matern health, neonatol and perinatol 8, 4 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40748-022-00139-9
- Kominiarek MA, Rajan P. Nutrition Recommendations in Pregnancy and Lactation. Med Clin North Am. 2016 Nov;100(6):1199-1215. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2016.06.004. PMID: 27745590; PMCID: PMC5104202.
- Korsmo HW, Jiang X, Caudill MA. Choline: Exploring the Growing Science on Its Benefits for Moms and Babies. Nutrients. 2019 Aug 7;11(8):1823. doi: 10.3390/nu11081823. PMID: 31394787; PMCID: PMC6722688.
- Scaglione F, Panzavolta G. Folate, folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate are not the same thing. Xenobiotica. 2014 May;44(5):480-8. doi: 10.3109/00498254.2013.845705. Epub 2014 Feb 4. PMID: 24494987.
- Martineau AR, Thummel KE, Wang Z, Jolliffe DA, Boucher BJ, Griffin SJ, Forouhi NG, Hitman GA. Differential Effects of Oral Boluses of Vitamin D2 vs Vitamin D3 on Vitamin D Metabolism: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Dec 1;104(12):5831-5839. doi: 10.1210/jc.2019-00207. PMID: 31199458; PMCID: PMC6797055.
- Szarfarc SC, de Cassana LM, Fujimori E, Guerra-Shinohara EM, de Oliveira IM. Relative effectiveness of iron bis-glycinate chelate (Ferrochel) and ferrous sulfate in the control of iron deficiency in pregnant women. Arch Latinoam Nutr. 2001 Mar;51(1 Suppl 1):42-7. PMID: 11688081.
