The Best Prenatal
When I knew I was going to start trying for baby I also started researching the best prenatal…because not all supplements are created equal. I wanted a high quality, 3rd party tested and bioavailable prenatal. I also realized that a lot of the prenatal supplements on the market require you to take 8+ capsules a day…not thank you!
So before I tell you about the perfect prenatal I found let me dive a little bit into what I was looking for in particular.
Jump to my favorite prenatal HERE
What to Look For:
Essential vitamins in the prenatal to look for:
Methylfolate (bioavailable folate - not folic acid) - Methlyfolate supports neutral tube development
Choline (choline bitartrate or phosphatidylcholine) - Essential for baby’s brain, spinal cord and nervous system
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) - support immune system
Vitamin K2 (MK-7) - supports immune system & calcium absoption
B12 (methylcobalamin) - for nervous system and energy
Iodine & Selenium - for thyroid function and supports fetal brain development
Magnesium (magnesium glycinate or citrate) - helps with sleep, digestions & muscle cramps
3rd Party Testing:
Third-party testing is a way to ensure that the supplements you take are safe, effective, and of high quality. For prenatal vitamins, where your health and your baby’s health are at stake, choosing products that are third-party tested gives you an extra layer of confidence in their safety and efficacy.
How to know your supplement is 3rd party tested:
Look for these seals or logos on the actual supplement:
USP (United States Pharmacopeia): This seal means the product has been tested for quality, purity, and potency.
NSF International: NSF-certified products have been tested for safety and quality standards.
Informed-Sport / Informed-Choice: These certifications ensure the product has been tested for banned substances, especially useful for athletes.
ConsumerLab: If you see a seal or mention that the product has passed testing from ConsumerLab, this means the supplement was independently tested for purity and quality.
Check the brands website
reputable companies will clearly state on their website that they use 3rd party testing on all of their supplements. Example here (scroll until you see (3rd party testing)
Ask the company
find the contact us button the brands website and ask them directly if preform 3rd party testing.
What to Look OUT For:
What ingredients to Avoid:
A lot of supplement brands (unfortunately) put unnecessary and harmful filler ingredients in their supplements.
Such as:
Artificial Colors and Dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1)
Artificial Sweeteners (Aspartame, Sucralose, Saccharin)
Magnesium Stearate
Titanium Dioxide
BHA and BHT (Butylated Hydroxyanisole and Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
Parabens (Methylparaben, Propylparaben)
Sodium Benzoate
Propylene Glycol
Corn Syrup
Silicon Dioxide
Natural Flavors
Examples of ingredient labels to avoid:
Example of a great ingredient label:
Less is more!
My Favorite Prenatal:
After learning all of this information here is the best of the best prenatal that I have been taking since August 2024.
The Needed Prenatal Multi Essentials
I chose this one because:
They are dedicated to 3rd party testing
It includes all of the essential nutrients
Sustainable-sourced nutrients in optimal forms and dosages for best absorption
Filler free
Science backed
Only 3 capsules a day
Needed has a wide array of prenatal supplements to meet your needs!
If you want an option that isn’t a capsule I would recommend the Prenatal Multi Powder (you can mix it with water, juice, milk or in your smoothie! It tastes like vanilla.)
Needed has offered you all a discount! Use code KARLYALANE to save on your subscribe to save order!
