Prenatal Vitamins… When should you start them? Which are best?
Many people know taking a prenatal multivitamin is important during pregnancy to provide optimal development of the baby but do you know when you should start?
The most optimal time to start taking a prenatal vitamin is 3 months before trying to conceive. Having the ability to pre-plan isn't always possible, so beginning ASAP is recommended. It’s also not harmful to be taking a prenatal every day as part of overall wellness.
Which prenatal vitamin is best?
In many cases if you eat a well rounded diet a prenatal multivitamin isn't necessarily needed. However, life's demands often make adhering to an ideal diet challenging. For many individuals, the ready availability of supplements becomes an essential resource.
The following are important to include in your daily supplementation during pregnancy:
5-MTHF or Folate: Many supplements have folic acid which is a synthetic form of folate and is harder for your body to absorb which means you wont get the full benefit form taking it. Folate is the natural form and therefore more readily absorbed. Going further, Folate is converted to 5-MTHF in your body which makes taking 5-MTHF the best choice. There is a small subsection of the population who lack the ability to convert folate to 5-MTHF so if you are unsure whether you have this genetic mutation its best to take 5-MTHF. This can be taken on its own but the best prenatal multivitamins already have this included.
Cod Liver Oil: Taking a cod liver oil supplement (different from fish oil!) will increase your vitamin D level and give you the added anti-inflammatory and healthy fat benefits of fish oil. Alternatively, you can take an Omega-3 and Vitamin D supplement separately!
Choline: This is an essential vitamin for fetal brain development!
Choose your supplement company wisely, they are not all created equal!
Some companies put their supplements through more rigorous testing than others which is very important, especially for fish oils. Some great brands are Metagenics, Thorne, Klaire Labs, and Orthomolecular. If you’re looking for further guidance on what supplement may be best for you please don't hesitate to reach out!
~ Dr. Janelle Provost, DC
