Dreaming of baby shoes and the sweet smell of a newborn? Before you dive into the world of ovulation kits and baby names, let’s talk about something super important yet often overlooked – preconception care. And a big part of that? Prenatal vitamins. You might be wondering, though, whether prenatal vitamins play a role in helping you get pregnant. Well, grab a cup of tea and find out!
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What’s in a Prenatal Vitamin?
Prenatal multivitamins are more than just your standard multivitamin. They’re power-packed with nutrients critical to a healthy pregnancy. These vitamins are designed to support the health of both mom and baby, filling nutritional gaps and preventing deficiencies.
Prenatal vitamins are available in two main formats – single-nutrient supplements and comprehensive multivitamins.
The single-nutrient format targets specific dietary needs by providing a concentrated dose of one particular vitamin or mineral. Examples are our 5-MTHF Activated Folic Acid and Omega-3 Fish Oil – two nutrients that may help with prenatal care and might even help you get pregnant (more on these two products below).
On the other hand, comprehensive prenatal multivitamins like our Women’s Prenatal Pregnancy Multivitamin offer a broad spectrum of essential nutrients in one tablet (13 vitamins and 12 minerals). This format caters to a wide range of dietary requirements and fills gaps that might exist even in a well-rounded diet.1
Important note: Before you get started on either type of prenatal vitamin, please consult your doctor. They know your medical history best and are much better positioned to recommend the right products for your needs.
So, can our Women’s Prenatal Multivitamin help you get pregnant?
For women in the preconception stage, the 25 nutrients included in our Women’s Prenatal Pregnancy Multivitamin may help boost your chances of getting pregnant. However, pregnancy isn’t guaranteed by just taking a prenatal vitamin. It’s a complex process that depends on nutrition, overall health, and timing.
Each tablet of our Women’s Prenatal Multivitamin features 13 essential vitamins (A, B complex, C, D, E, K) and 12 dietary minerals (Calcium, Iron, Iodine, Zinc, Selenium, Chromium, and more).
Here’s what makes this supplement special for women:
- We use 100% active versions of Vitamin B9 (Methylfolate), Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin), and Vitamin B6 (P-5-P).
- We use Ferrous Bisglycinate, a gentle form of Iron that is well-tolerated and safe for pregnancy.2
- We use Beta Carotene, a safe form of Vitamin A that can be taken during pregnancy.3
- We include higher concentrations of Vitamins B, C, D, E, and K than other brands.
- We use the natural forms of Vitamin E (d-alpha Tocopherol) and Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol).
- We use 25 mg of Zinc to support fertility and reproductive health.4 Zinc may help boost your chances of getting pregnant.
- We use the body-ready version of Vitamin K2 (MK-7), which is vital for allowing bones to absorb calcium.5
- We use the recommended Iodine level for women during pregnancy and breastfeeding (290 mcg) to support maternal and infant health.6
Is this supplement right for you, though? Here are 10 things you need to know about our Women’s Prenatal Vitamins.
What about single-ingredient prenatal vitamins? Should you take them?
While our Women’s Prenatal supplement aims to support women’s nutrition through the different stages of motherhood, we understand that some women may benefit from taking single-nutrient supplements.
Here are 2 examples of supplements that may help you get pregnant and support a healthy pregnancy, too:
5-MTHF Activated Folic Acid
Sexually active women should consider taking 5-MTHF folic acid whether or not they’re planning to conceive. From 2015 to 2019, there were 121 million unintended pregnancies.7 These pregnancies pose health risks to the baby, including serious birth defects like neural tube defects (NTDs), which affect the spine and brain.
Taking 5-MTHF folic acid before and during pregnancy can prevent 50-70% of NTDs, significantly reducing the risk. This prevention is vital, considering the lifetime care cost for a child with spina bifida can get very expensive. 8
5-MTHF is the best form of folic acid for prenatal health. It’s the main form of folate found in the blood, meaning it’s the active form, so when you take it, the body no longer needs to make further conversions. This is especially important for people who can’t make conversions due to genetics or stress. You may choose either the 1MG or 5MG strength of our 5-MTHF.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 is crucial for a healthy pregnancy. It improves blood flow to the uterus, reducing miscarriage and preeclampsia risk. It may also help prevent preterm labor, with studies showing women with adequate Omega-3 levels have longer pregnancies.9
For fertility, Omega-3 may aid in managing conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)10 and endometriosis11 by balancing hormones and reducing inflammation.
Check out our Omega-3 Fish Oil Capsules here. Each 3-capsule serving contains 2,250mg of superior triglyceride fish oil in the 3:2 EPA:DHA ratio (1,224mg EPA / 816mg DHA). It’s also refined to remove all contaminants for purity, ensuring you get 100% high-quality fish oil.
When to start taking prenatal vitamins?
Experts recommend taking prenatal vitamins at least 2-3 months before trying to get pregnant. This headstart ensures your body is stocked with essential nutrients from the get-go, supporting early fetal development even before you know you’re pregnant.12
Related article: Do Multivitamins Work? Weigh The Pros and Cons of Taking Multivitamins
When to stop taking prenatal vitamins?
Don’t put away the vitamin bottle the moment you see a positive pregnancy test. Continuing to take your prenatal vitamins throughout pregnancy and while breastfeeding is important. The nutrients in our Women’s Prenatal Multivitamin support not only the baby’s development in utero but also provide the nutrients necessary for breastfeeding.
Conclusion
While prenatal vitamins are not a fertility treatment per se, they play a significant role in preconception care. By ensuring your body has all the nutrients it needs, high-quality multivitamin supplements help support your fertility and pave the way for a healthy pregnancy.
So, can prenatal vitamins help you get pregnant? They’re certainly a step in the right direction. Remember, a healthy body is the best starting point for bringing a new life into the world.
References:
- Misner, Bill. “Food Alone May Not Provide Sufficient Micronutrients for Preventing Deficiency.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, vol. 3, no. 1, June 2006, https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-3-1-51 ↩︎
- Raiturker, Anagha Pradyumna Pai, et al. “Real-World Evaluation of Safety and Effectiveness of Ferrous Bis-Glycinate and Its Combination in Pregnant Women with Iron Deficiency Anemia.” International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 12, no. 5, 28 Apr. 2023, pp. 1232–1236, https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20231201 ↩︎
- Strobel, Manuela, et al. “The Importance of β-Carotene as a Source of Vitamin a with Special Regard to Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women.” European Journal of Nutrition, vol. 46, no. S1, 20 July 2007, pp. 1–20, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-007-1001-z. ↩︎
- Garner, Tyler Bruce, et al. “Role of Zinc in Female Reproduction.” Biology of Reproduction, vol. 104, no. 5, 17 Feb. 2021, https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioab023. ↩︎
- Brown, Benjamin, and Ciara Wright. “Safety and Efficacy of Supplements in Pregnancy.” Nutrition Reviews, vol. 78, no. 10, 11 Jan. 2020, https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuz101. ↩︎
- Zimmermann, Michael B. “The Importance of Adequate Iodine during Pregnancy and Infancy.” World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics, vol. 115, 2016, pp. 118–124, https://doi.org/10.1159/000442078 ↩︎
- Bearak, Jonathan, et al. “Unintended Pregnancy and Abortion by Income, Region, and the Legal Status of Abortion: Estimates from a Comprehensive Model for 1990–2019.” The Lancet Global Health, vol. 8, no. 9, 22 July 2020, pp. e1152–e1161, https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30315-6. ↩︎
- CDC. “Folic Acid & Neural Tube Defects: Data & Statistics.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 Sept. 2018, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefectscount/data.html. ↩︎
- Coletta, Jaclyn M, et al. “Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Pregnancy.” Reviews in Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 3, no. 4, 2010, pp. 163–71, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3046737/ ↩︎
- Yang, Kailin, et al. “Effectiveness of Omega-3 Fatty Acid for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, vol. 16, no. 1, 27 Mar. 2018, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-018-0346-x. ↩︎
- Marcinkowska, Angelika, and Magdalena Górnicka. “The Role of Dietary Fats in the Development and Treatment of Endometriosis.” Life, vol. 13, no. 3, 27 Feb. 2023, p. 654, https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030654. ↩︎
- Avram, Calin, et al. “Vitamin Supplementation in Pre-Pregnancy and Pregnancy among Women—Effects and Influencing Factors in Romania.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 19, no. 14, 12 July 2022, p. 8503, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148503. ↩︎
