What to Look for When Choosing a Prenatal Multivitamin

This post is sponsored by New Chapter, maker of whole-food vitamins & supplements. All opinions are my own

If you’re currently pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant in the future, this blog post is for you! Choosing a prenatal multivitamin is one of the first things I consider when thinking about getting pregnant (if we’re planning it!) or after finding out I’m pregnant.

My first two pregnancies were a surprise. But this time we were trying to get pregnant. So I started on a prenatal multivitamin before I was pregnant to ensure the baby would get all the nutrients and vitamins right away.

Prenatal Vitamins

During pregnancy, we need to be more aware than ever of what we are putting into our bodies because the baby gets everything we ingest. So, choosing a prenatal is important – and don’t assume all are created equal because they definitely aren’t. As an expecting mother, you may have come across some misleading information about prenatal vitamins. But a good prenatal vitamin can provides many benefits.


This is why I’m so excited to share with you all about the Perfect Prenatal multivitamin from New Chapter that I’m taking to help support my healthy pregnancy. It’s made from quality ingredients, loaded with all the vitamins and minerals baby and I need, and it’s fermented, so it doesn’t upset my stomach.

Should you take a prenatal multivitamin before you’re pregnant?

If you are hoping to get pregnant or actively trying, I highly recommend you start taking a prenatal multivitamin. Folate is an important B vitamin that the baby needs right away to support the development of a healthy spinal cord.

According to WebMD, birth defects occur in the first 3-4 weeks of pregnancy. Which is why it's so important to have folic acid in your system when trying to conceive. You want your baby to get this nutrient immediately.

Prenatal Multivitamin

Why is a prenatal multivitamin important?

So much is happening in your body as you begin to grow a tiny human in your belly. It’s important that you are fueling your body with the proper vitamins and nutrients that both you and the baby need. It’s just as important to take a prenatal multivitamin for you as it is the baby.

Here are some key nutrients you get when taking a quality prenatal multivitamin:

Folic Acid/Folate

Folic acid is a B vitamin. It's important to take especially early on in pregnancy because it helps support healthy birth weight and the development of the brain and spinal cord. New Chapter Perfect Prental includes methylfolate – which is the most active form of folate.

Iron

Most pregnant mamas aren’t getting enough iron in their diets. Iron is important in pregnancy because you are at higher risk of anemia and iron deficiency.

Anemia means a lack of blood. When you’re pregnant your blood volume doubles so there is enough for baby and you. Because expectant mothers are making so much blood, supplemental Iron can help—and it supports the transport of oxygen to the growing baby.. So, it’s important to take a prenatal multivitamin with iron.

Calcium

Calcium is important to keep your bone health strong during pregnancy. Your baby is also needing calcium from you to build strong bones as he or she grows.

Vitamin D3

Vitamin D3 is important whether you are pregnant or not. But an inadequate amount while pregnant can lead to complications.

Some studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy can lead to gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and low birth weight.

Prenatal Multivitamin


When should I take my prenatal multivitamins?

I recommend taking your prenatal multivitamins in the evening, but New Chapter’s prenatal multivitamin can be taken anytime, even on an empty stomach. Personally I prefer to take them at night or after I eat a meal, and I like that they’re gentle on the stomach because they’re fermented.

Why I love New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Multivitamin

My prenatal of choice is New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Multivitamin. I have always loved New Chapter's products and after researching their prenatal multivitamin it was an easy choice to make. If you’re looking for a prenatal multivitamin, or you are realizing the one you have really isn’t this high quality, I highly recommend New Chapter Perfect Prenatal. I believe they are the right choice to help you have a healthy pregnancy.

Why? For me, I needed a multivitamin that was made using organic vegetables and herbs, non-GMO Project Verified, no sugar added, and free from synthetic fillers. Perfect Prenatal multivitamin checks all the boxes and more. When you take New Chapter Perfect Prenatal multivitamin you can rest assured knowing that they are.

  • Made with whole foods

  • Fermented with beneficial probiotics, which makes it easier for your body to digest and absorb the nutrients AND, gentle enough to take any time – even on an empty stomach

  • Includes a clinical does of ginger to help soothe occasional nausea/ morning sickness

  • First prenatal to be made with certified organic vegetables and herbs

  • Non-GMO Project Verified

  • 100% Vegetarian

  • Kosher

  • NSF Certified Gluten Free (many prenatal gummy vitamins contain gluten)

  • No synthetic fillers

  • No animal gelatin (added to some prenatal gummy vitamins)

choosing a prenatal multivitamin


Talk to your healthcare provider

It’s always a good idea to consult your doctor or midwife about your prenatal vitamins into to make sure they have all the nutrients you and baby need. As I mentioned, Prenatal vitamins are not all created equal and can have differing amounts of vitamins and minerals, including folic acid.

Your healthcare professional can inform you whether you're taking the right dosage. And that’s one less thing you have to worry about.


Switching my prenatal vitamins reduced my nausea

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I was very sick early on in my pregnancy. This has by far been the worst pregnancy, sickness wise, and it’s totally kicking my booty!

I tried a lot of different remedies/tricks/ideas to help reduce nausea but honestly, not much helped. A friend suggested I switch my prenatal to see if that might help at all. I remember hearing other friends say their prenatal vitamin would make them sick.

So I immediately switched to New Chapter Perfect Prenatal multivitamin. And I'm so glad I did because I felt relief from my nausea right away. It's not 100% relief, but it definitely was way more tolerable.

I took New Chapter Perfect Prenatal multivitamin with my first two pregnancies. But my sister recommended a different brand with this pregnancy...never again. New Chapter from here on out!

prenatal multivitamin

Conclusion

Choosing a high-quality prenatal multivitamin is so important not only for you but for the sweet bundle growing inside you. Make sure you choose a vitamin that uses high-quality ingredients, is organic, and doesn’t use synthetic fillers.

Your body requires a lot of vitamins and minerals as it goes through the changes of pregnancy. And your baby needs these vitamins and minerals to help him or her grow into a healthy, happy baby.







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