Picking a Prenatal
With so many prenatal vitamins on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose between. Food is always my preference for consuming your nutrients, but it can be difficult to get all of the nutrients you need through food, especially when our nutrient needs are increased during pregnancy. I will compare my favorite three prenatal brands, FullWell, Needed and Seeking Health. At the bottom of this article I have a discount code for all three of my favorite prenatals! There are many more prenatal brands on the market, and I have not researched every single prenatal, but the ones mentioned are my top picks.
Why Take a Prenatal?
- To support your hormone balance, energy, immunity, and fertility health
- Optimal nutrient support needed during pregnancy
- For fetal development and growth
- To support the nutrient content of breastmilk
- Recovery during postpartum
Nutrient profile:
It’s preferable not to have both calcium and iron in the same supplement. These minerals compete for absorption, so you probably won’t be getting enough of either one if taken together. An additional Omega-3 supplement may be needed for an adequate amount.
Let’s compare the different prenatal choices I recommend:
- FullWell (Previously Full Circle)
- Needed
- Seeking health
The biggest thing to note about all of these three prenatal choices is that the recommended servings per day are eight. Eight capsules may sound like a lot, but this is to ensure that you reach an adequate intake of nutrients.
FullWell
My top choice is FullWell, recently renamed from Full Circle. FullWell was formulated by a Registered Dietitian, Ayla Barmmer! The vitamins in this prenatal are in their most bioavailable form, meaning the nutrients in this supplement can be readily absorbed. From my own experience, I have noticed that FullWell is the most tolerated prenatal of these three.
Needed
My next favorite prenatal is Needed. Needed prenatal has the most choline out of the three. A vital nutrient that is needed during pregnancy. I have also noticed in women who are TTC, choline is their most deficient nutrient.
If taking 8 capsules in one day is difficult for you, Needed offers a prenatal in powder form. The powder form can be added to a smoothie, latte, tea, etc. however you want to add it in for your convenience.
I have a link at the bottom of the page that goes directly to the Needed website, but I have 3 different codes for Needed to apply at checkout.
Needed Discount Codes:
- TTCNUTRITIONIST - 20% off the first order
- TTCNUTRITIONISTSAMPLE - $5 for a 5-day sample pack of the multi-powder, collagen, or omega capsules.
- TTCNUTRITIONIST50 - $50 off Needed's complete plan.
Seeking Health
My next choice is Seeking Health. Seeking health has the least amount of choline out of these three prenatal options. However, the rest of their nutrient profile is amazing!
A huge benefit to Seeking Health is that they offer different forms of their prenatal supplement. Besides a capsule form, they offer a protein powder, and a chewable.
It’s important to note that the chewable does not contain choline. If you decide to take their chewable, I recommend that you get your choline needs through your food or another supplement with choline.