11 Natural and Organic Prenatal Vitamins Great for You & Baby
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Natural and Organic Prenatal Vitamins
Are you considering adding a member or two to your family? If so, investing in a natural or organic prenatal vitamin is part of the new parent puzzle. The right nutritional support makes attaining your goal easier.
However, there are several products on the market. Plus, labeling makes it difficult to discern which brands adhere to the standards that matter to you. Weeding through the swamp takes a mighty large machete full of accurate information from sources you can trust.
Help is on the way. We’ve reviewed scores of popular brands and determined the best ones that adhere to national and internationally recognized standards. Here are 11 natural and organic prenatal vitamins you should try.
Who Needs a Prenatal Vitamin?
First of all, prenatal vitamins earn their name for a reason. A standard multivitamin is sufficient to meet adult needs without additional levels of certain nutrients that go to waste in excess. For example, while those who want to become pregnant need extra folate, their body will excrete what they don’t need through their urine. Taking a prenatal when you don’t plan on pregnancy means spending more money for extra nutrients you pee down the drain.
However, you should start taking prenatal vitamins at least three to six months before you get pregnant to ensure your body has the building blocks necessary to support your health. For example, expectant mothers often experience limited mobility and increased aches and pains. This typically accompanies the expected 25-35-pound weight gain during pregnancy. The right nutrition mitigates these changes, making the transition easier on your body.
The proper nutritional support also provides the mental stamina necessary for enduring big changes like adding a family member. For example, vitamin B-12 helps you convert food into energy, giving you the essential pep to manage the rest of your life while growing your family.
Why Choose Natural and Organic prenatal vitamins?
There are many good reasons to switch to natural and organic supplements. The benefits extend beyond you to the Earth — what’s good for the human body is also good for the planet.
For example, organic products have 94%-100% less pesticide residue than those containing nonorganic ingredients. You don’t want that chemical gunk in your body, and it’s not great for ecosystems. Free markets let you vote with your dollars — each purchase is a chance to support companies that espouse responsible production practices.
The ingredients in many prenatal vitamins come from plants. Nonorganic pesticides used on crops contribute to climate change throughout their life cycles. They create emissions during production and continue to emit gases into the atmosphere when sprayed on crops or sowed in soil, and their residues end up in the final product.
Additionally, organic products provide superior nutrition. Foods grown in organic soil have a higher mineral content, and using them to create your supplement results in less waste.
Finally, it seems as if every day, the FDA announces that a food additive it once deemed safe isn’t as harmless as once thought. Natural, organic products are typically free of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.
Also important to note: finding an actual certified organic prenatal is difficult (we’ve only found one), but ‘natural’ can be just as good or a close second.
11 Natural Prenatal Vitamins to Consider
The following 11 natural and organic prenatal vitamins offer superior nutritional support. They’re also a great value for all the goodness you receive.
Keep in mind that several factors influence the best prenatal vitamin for you, including the following:
Price: Your supplement must fit into your budget. That said, investing in inferior products is like throwing money away.
Convenience: Must you go to the store to purchase your natural and organic prenatal vitamins or can you get them delivered to your door?
Delivery method: Capsules come in different shapes and sizes, and some are easier to swallow than others. Some people prefer a liquid supplement to avoid choking issues.
With that in mind, consider investing in one of these organic and natural prenatal supplements:
1. Beli Women's Prenatal
Beli is a women’s prenatal that gives you the perfect blend of powerful nutrients throughout all the stages of pregnancy (pre, during & post). It helps prepare your body to be the healthiest it can be for pregnancy, and gives you the energy and comfort during the ups and downs of each trimester, as well as the support needed for postpartum recovery. These capsules are Non-GMO, Gluten + Allergen Free, Vegan Friendly, Made in the USA & Science Backed! We love that they have been awarded Clean Label Project’s ‘Purity Award’, which you can learn more about here. What’s even cooler is that Beli offers a prenatal for Men - because after all, it takes two to make a baby!
Certified USDA Organic, Vegan
2. Garden of Life MyKind Organics Prenatal Vitamin
Garden of Life MyKind Organics has a great reputation for sustainability, making it an excellent choice if your primary reason for going natural and organic is to support planet Earth. Each tablet contains over 30 powdered organic fruits and veggies, such as lemon, amla berry and holy basil. You’ll also find 800 milligrams of folate and 27 milligrams of iron to support healthy red blood cell production and neural tube development. These tablets are non-GMO project-verified, certified vegan and USDA organic.
3. Ritual Prenatal Vitamin
You might find it easier to get into the prenatal vitamin-popping habit with a name like Ritual. This formula goes heavy on folate, choline and DHA to support healthy neural tube and brain development in the fetus. Additionally, it’s high in calcium and the other minerals necessary for bone health, including:
D3
K2
Magnesium
Boron
4. FullWell Prenatal Vitamin
FullWell prides itself on including extra nutrients other supplements miss in its prenatal formula, including magnesium, calcium and choline. Magnesium supports healthy neurological function and may help expectant moms better manage prenatal stress. During pregnancy, injury risks increase as your center of gravity shifts and hip joints loosen, and the extra dose of calcium protects bones against breakage. FullWell prenatal vitamins are also free of the following allergens: Gluten / Dairy / Wheat / Peanuts / Tree nuts / Eggs / Shellfish / Sesame / Soy / Corn
Powder Form Option (as well as pill)
5. Needed Prenatal Vitamins
Needed delivers its prenatal vitamins in powdered form, allowing you to mix them with your favorite beverage.
Its natural vanilla flavor works well with your morning coffee or tea.
This manufacturer also produces multiple formulas. While the basic supplement is sufficient for most needs, its complete plan supports those planning to freeze their eggs to support optimal ovum health.
Great for those who don’t like to swallow pills!
6. Alive
This brand offers a full day’s RDA of 18 vitamins and minerals and the extra folate, iron and DHA your body needs when expecting. DHA is a type of omega-3 fatty acid that supports healthy eye and brain development. This formula is vegetarian as well as natural with some organic ingredients. It’s also free of yeast, gluten and wheat. The unique gummy formula makes these fun to take.
*make sure to take an iron supplement with this one since it does not contain any in gummy form
7. Healthy Baby Prenatal Vitamins
Healthy Baby developed this prenatal formula in conjunction with the Neurological Health Foundation. Therefore, you know it contains the folate and choline necessary to support neural tube and brain development. Healthy Baby is unique because it has a slightly different supplement for each trimester of pregnancy, plus one for postnatal care. You receive a precise blend of nutrients for every developmental stage, all in prepackaged servings that easily slip into your purse or lunch bag.
Probiotic & Liquid Form Option
8. MaryRuth Vegan Prenatal + Probiotic
Probiotics refer to beneficial bacteria. These bacteria naturally occur in your digestive tract and perform many crucial functions in your body, from aiding digestion to producing serotonin. However, they deplete over time due to alcohol and antibiotic use, stress and poor diet. Fortunately, you can replenish them through food and supplementation. Each serving contains a proprietary blend of vitamins, minerals and botanical extracts. There’s also a signature blend of probiotic bacteria to nourish your intestinal health.
9. GOBIOTICS Vegan Prenatal Vitamin
These vegan prenatal vitamins are chock-full of 22 vitamins, minerals and nutrients formulated to support the mother and developing fetus.
They claim to boost immunity during pregnancy, which protects the welfare of your child.
GOBIOTICS uses a third-party testing system in a good manufacturing practice (GMP) lab to support its claims. The extra dose of iodine in each serving supports thyroid health.
10. NATURELO Prenatal Vitamin
NATURELO uses a gentle iron that won’t constipate you.
These tablets also contain 24 additional nutrients to support a healthy parent and child.
This company uses all-natural, plant-based sources for its ingredients, such as lichen, sunflower and algae. The additional choline nurtures healthy brain development in the fetus.
11. Sprigs Mama Bear Prenatal Vitamin
Prenatal vitamins only work at their best when your body can absorb them. Sprigs Mama Bear prenatal vitamins use a proprietary blend of natural whole foods and nourishing herbs for superior bioavailability.
This formula also supports healthy breastfeeding, making it a good one to keep on hand if you don’t want to switch post-delivery. The subscribe-and-save option keeps you well-stocked.
What’s the Best Time to Take a Prenatal Vitamin?
The best time to take your prenatal vitamin is whenever you remember. Therefore, it’s best to do so in the morning if you’re already in the habit of taking your supplements then.
However, remember that many supplements contain additional iron to support fetal red blood cell development. Taking this mineral on an empty stomach can result in nausea and vomiting, meaning you lose the benefits. Therefore, it’s best to take your prenatal vitamin with food until you know how it affects your digestive system.
Natural, Organic Prenatal Vitamins
The right natural, organic prenatal vitamin prepares your body for pregnancy by supplying the nutrients necessary to nurture your changing body. They also contain crucial substances essential for fetal growth and development.
Nourish your body’s increasing nutritional needs with these 11 natural and organic prenatal vitamins. Providing the best possible conditions for pregnancy increases your chances of a happy, healthy baby.
About the Author
Mia Barnes is a health and beauty writer with a passion for sustainable living and wellness. Mia is also the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Body+Mind Magazine, an online publication that covers healthy and eco-friendly living. Follow Mia and Body+Mind on Twitter and LinkedIn!
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