Do you really need a prenatal?
This answer is going to be different for everyone depending on their unique situation. BUT there are other options besides a standard prenatal. During pregnancy, postpartum, and while breastfeeding our nutritional needs increase, and if we’re not consuming high-quality, nutrient-dense foods it’s very likely we’re lacking in certain areas. That is why a prenatal is a great addition to our diets because it can help fill in those gaps. However, it’s difficult to find a prenatal that has all the right amounts of the necessary nutrients in the most bioavailable form.
A prenatal is a safety net of sorts and is there to help fill in the gaps and provide nutritional support. It is not a free pass to eat low-quality, highly processed foods 100% of the time.
If you would like a free consultation to determine what supplements are best for you please send me a message!
*This is not medical advice and you should do your own research and come to your own conclusion or consult with your practitioner.*
With my first pregnancy, I did take a prenatal and then took a few additional supplements that I felt like were missing from that prenatal and my diet. I think the main ones were choline, magnesium, probiotics and I think omega-3s. This time around I am following the same basic approach except I’m not taking a prenatal gasp!
I did a ton of research on the required nutrients and then what are daily requirements and then based my supplement regimen on that information. While this information is specific to pregnancy these are all nutrients we need in all stages of life.
Required Nutrients
Vitamin A (Retinol)
Vitamin B12 + Other B Vitamins
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin K2
Folate
Zinc
Iron
DHA (Omega 3s)
Iodine
Choline
Calcium
Copper
Magnesium
Potassium
Selenium
Probiotics
Supplements
Beef Liver from Perfect Supplements. This is a great source of choline, heme iron, folate, vitamin B12, vitamins A, D, E, K.
Shilajit from Forever Healthy is full of trace minerals like iron, zinc, fluoride, selenium, copper, potassium, chromium, iodine, manganese, and molybdenum.
Magnesium from Forever Healthy is derived from Magtein is the most bioavailable magnesium for the brain.
Immune Aid Vitamin C powder from Earthly Wellness, which is made from real food Vitamin C sources. Most vitamin C supplements are made from ascorbic acid, which is not as easily absorbed into the body.
Vitamin D/K2 from Thorne. These two nutrients are complementary to one another and they are also fat-soluble vitamins, so I prefer to take them in liquid form for better absorption.
Vitamin E from Thorne is great to get a little bit more in and helps provide antioxidants for our tissues.
OmegAvail TG1000 (Omega 3s) from Designs for Health. With Omega 3s or any fish oil, we want to really pay attention to the source and the quality because they can quickly go rancid. If you burp and it tastes like fish oil, it’s probably time to look for one that is a little higher quality. This one is practitioner grade that I get from Fullscrpit (message me if you would like to get an account), but there are others like Rosita that I’ve heard great things about.
ION GutSupport from Intelligence of Nature, which isn’t necessarily a probiotic, but does help to diversify the microbiome, supports healthy digestion, improves the gut lining, and improves nutrient absorption. I also consume dairy products and am working on getting more sauerkraut in to increase my probiotics.
Natal Nourish from Organic Olivia has herbs that help to support uterine and hormone health. I love her so much and all her products and knowledge! I took this prior to pregnancy and will continue to take it until it runs out.
Zinc from Thorne is also something I’ll add in a few days a week, especially with the weather changing I’m working to boost my immune system. Ideally, this is from a whole food source like Oyster-Min or Oysterzinc, but this is what I already had on hand, so I’m trying to use it up.
Electrolytes/Minerals are something that I’m looking to add in and will likely buy some during Black Friday when they go on sale.
If I had to pick my top 3 for everyone to include it would be Beef Liver, Magnesium, and some type of mineral either Shilajit or an Electrolyte.
I know this may seem like so much and I’m not perfect 100% of the time by any means. There are days that I miss some of these or skip a day entirely, but that’s why I like to use these as supplemental to my diet and not something I like to 100% rely on.
If you are unsure where to start reach out and we can set up a consultation to see what your current diet is like and where we can help fill in some gaps! Also, if you are looking for recommendations of other brands send me a message and I’d love to help out!