How to Choose a Prenatal Vitamin: What to Look For

A good prenatal vitamin fills common nutritional gaps during pregnancy and breastfeeding, when the body's needs for several vitamins and minerals rise. Here's what to check on the label.

Key nutrients to look for

• Folate: supports the baby's early development. Look for an adequate amount, ideally in an easily used form.
• Iron: supports the larger blood volume in pregnancy and helps prevent iron deficiency.
• Iodine: important for the baby's brain development and the mother's thyroid.
• Vitamin D: supports bones and the immune system.
• Calcium and magnesium: support bones and muscles.
• Zinc, selenium and B vitamins: support immunity and energy metabolism.
• Choline: often missing from basic multivitamins, and important during pregnancy.

Active folate vs folic acid

Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate; the body has to convert it into its active form before using it. Active folate (L-5-MTHF, or methylfolate) is already in the form the body uses, so it doesn't depend on that conversion step.

Practical tips

• Take your prenatal vitamin with food to reduce nausea.
• Tell your doctor about all supplements you take, especially before blood tests: biotin can affect some lab results.
• Don't double up on supplements without medical advice, as some vitamins can be harmful in excess.

Our prenatal option

Bio Pregnant is a one-a-day multivitamin for pregnancy, breastfeeding and pregnancy planning. It contains active folate (L-5-MTHF) plus iron, iodine, vitamin D3, calcium, zinc, choline and B vitamins.

This article is for general information and does not replace medical advice.