Does Your Prenatal Vitamin Have These Nutrients? 

L-METHYLFOLATE 

We need folate to create new cells and babies are new cells.¹  But, a lot of what we are exposed to or encouraged to buy contains folic acid, which is the synthetic version of folate. For our bodies to utilize folic acid it must be converted to methylfolate, but this process is not done very efficiently in most of us. When searching for a solid prenatal vitamin make sure it has L-METHYLFOLATE rather than the other form. 

CALCIUM 

Calcium is essential for maintaining and developing healthy bones and teeth.²  A mom must have an adequate intake of calcium to not only support herself but also her growing baby. Most prenatal vitamins contain a combination of calcium citrate and carbonate, but citrate is the form that is most easily absorbed in our body. 

VITAMIN D3 

Vitamin D is critical for our immune system and overall mental health. We also need Vitamin D3 to absorb calcium. Vitamin D can be found in sun exposure (30 minutes a day), fatty fish, beef liver, and egg yolks. If we do not see the sunshine on a regular basis or our diet is lacking in some of the foods mentioned, then make sure your prenatal vitamin has Vitamin D3. 

Vitamin K2 

Vitamin K regulates calcium by taking it out of our blood and putting it into our bones where it belongs-instead of our arteries. Vitamin K comes in many forms. Look out for the menaquinone-7 (MK-7) form of Vitamin K2.³  The MK-7 has been clinically proven to have bone-building properties and is the rarest in the western diet. 

EPA & DHA 

EPA and DHA are two types of omega-3 fatty acids, or “essential fatty acids”, that come from fatty cold-water fish. DHA is essential for the growth and development of the baby’s brain. EPA is an anti-inflammatory. Both help to regulate our hormonal processes, especially during pregnancy and postpartum. A baby can take up to 5g of omegas from hi  s/her mother. If the mother does not have adequate EPA and DHA in her diet, then she will be affected, and it will be difficult to recover post birth. 

Our favorite prenatal vitamins are: 

Metagenics Wellness Essentials Pregnancy or Thorne Basic Prenatal   

These can be purchased HERE 

Resources: 

1. www.drdeborahmd.com 

2. www.askdrangela.com 

3. www.omicsgroup.org 

 Originally taken from: WWW.BIRTHFIT.COM