Did you know it’s a good idea to start prenatal vitamins at least 3 months prior to getting pregnant? This is because it’s important to build up your stores of folate, vitamin D, and iron before you are pregnant.
Written by: Jessica Diamond, MPH, RDN
Did you know it’s a good idea to start prenatal vitamins at least 3 months prior to getting pregnant? This is because it’s important to build up your stores of folate, vitamin D, and iron before you conceive. Research shows that certain nutrient deficiencies early in pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage later on. With this in mind, we recommend that you start taking a prenatal as soon as you plan to get pregnant.
There are so many prenatal vitamins on the market that it’s difficult to know which one to use. If you are making the effort to take them (and having to choke them down – first-trimester mamas know what we are talking about!), then you want to make sure you’re getting everything you need for you and your growing baby. Below, we break down the most essential prenatal nutrients and list our favorite prenatal supplements on the market.
Make sure your prenatal vitamin has:
Our favorite prenatal vitamins:
You can shop all our favorite prenatal vitamins here (with part of the proceeds going to Baby2Baby).
Here are some other supplements to consider:
As always, make sure to talk to your own doctor and dietitian about your prenatal vitamin needs.