If you’re thinking about getting pregnant or are about to become a mother, you know that you need to take care of yourself more than ever. To do so, it’s necessary to follow a balanced diet and start taking the best vitamins for pregnancy that will help you, as a future mom, get the extra nutrients your body needs during gestation. They also help ensure proper fetal development. You may have heard about folic acid, but you might have doubts about which one to buy and when to start taking it.
In this comparison of pregnancy vitamins with the best quality-price ratio, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about them. However, before taking any of these supplements, it is crucial to follow your doctor’s recommendations.
What are pregnancy vitamins?
Pregnancy vitamins are a nutritional supplement for both women looking to become pregnant and those who already are. According to experts, these pregnancy vitamins are crucial in helping prevent certain congenital anomalies, such as the baby’s spina bifida or anencephaly, among others.
In this comparison of pregnancy vitamins with the best quality-price ratio, we will tell you everything about them. Keep in mind that it is not advisable to take them without consulting your doctor first, as each person needs a different amount of micronutrients and may have various intolerances.
Information about the 6 main manufacturers
Kern Pharma
This pharmaceutical laboratory is part of the Indukern family company. Kern Pharma mainly has six business lines, including the Gynea line. Through this line, it markets products aimed at improving women’s health throughout their lives. Gestagyn® preconception, Gestagyn® pregnancy, and Gestagyn® lactation are some of its most prominent multivitamins.
Italfarmaco
Italfarmaco is a pharmaceutical laboratory whose goal is to improve people’s health through the drugs it designs and subsequently markets. Therefore, its constant search for improvement in existing treatments makes one of its commitments to contribute efficiently to the progress of human health.
Femibion®
Femibion® specializes in the nutritional needs of women during all stages of pregnancy. This manufacturer advocates for a healthy lifestyle based on a balanced diet. However, at certain times in a woman’s life, it is necessary to take the best dietary supplements. Femibion® makes them readily available.
DonnaPlus
DonnaPlus belongs to the Ordesa Group, a company with a wide portfolio of drugs designed to complement the nutrition of children and adults. This Spanish company, born in Huesca, has been in constant research and innovation for over 75 years. Its products, with the best quality-price ratio, are part of leading brands that cover everything from health to nutrition and well-being for people of all ages. Therefore, it couldn’t be missing in this comparison.
Bayer
This multinational is synonymous with trust and reliability in both the health and food sectors. Its main challenge is to address the challenges posed by both aging and the constant growth of the world population. Innovation is one of its main working tools.
Pharmacius
This online parapharmacy is a national leader in the marketing of products that are commonly found in pharmacies, herbal stores, and drugstores. In addition, its website offers a pharmaceutical consultation service so you can resolve any doubts.
How do pregnancy vitamins work?
As a general rule, the best pregnancy vitamins should be taken once a day. Our bodies absorb nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from food to stay healthy. However, during pregnancy, the fetus also nourishes and feeds on what the body of the pregnant mother provides. It is then, to avoid any vitamin deficiency, that experts recommend consuming these types of supplements.
In the case of being pregnant with twins or triplets, the intake of pregnancy vitamins may be slightly higher. Before purchasing pregnancy vitamins with the best quality-price ratio, our recommendation is to thoroughly analyze this comparison and consult with your doctor or pharmacist.
Advantages and use of pregnancy vitamins
The best vitamins for pregnant women are different from water-soluble vitamin complexes, as they usually contain much more iron, folic acid, omega-3, calcium, and vitamin D. The benefits of each of these vitamins are related to the proper development of vital functions in the fetus and, in addition, they complement perfectly the deficiencies that may appear in the mother’s body during gestation.
According to experts, pregnancy requires an extra supply of vitamins that you can complement with a balanced diet. The best vitamins for pregnancy are, therefore, essential in the daily lives of future moms.
What types of pregnancy vitamins are there?
There are certain vitamins that, according to experts, help reduce certain complications, such as premature birth or possible malformations. Folic acid, iron, and iodine are undoubtedly the most important vitamin supplements. However, calcium, zinc, and vitamins B12, C, D, and E should not be overlooked. In this comparison of pregnancy vitamins with the best quality-price ratio, we’ll tell you everything about them.
Folic Acid
If you have checked other reviews, you may have noticed that folic acid is the most important vitamin to take during pregnancy. It prevents severe malformations in the neural tube, thus helping the spinal cord and the brain to join correctly.
Iron
Its main function is to provide more oxygen to the baby. Iron deficiency can cause discomfort in the pregnant mother. In this way, headaches, increased fatigue, and a significantly higher risk of premature birth could occur.
Iodine
It contributes to the correct formation of the fetal nervous system and, therefore, plays a role in the development of its five senses and coordination. Keep in mind that taking an excess of iodine could be harmful to your health.
Calcium
It is involved in the development of the baby’s bones, teeth, muscles, and nerves. According to specialists, its intake is crucial from the second trimester of pregnancy. Calcium deficiency in the pregnant mother can increase the risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or even cesarean delivery.
Vitamin D
It also contributes to the proper formation of the baby’s bones and teeth and has some relationship with the skin and vision. In addition to preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, its deficiency can delay fetal growth.
Vitamins B12, C, and E
The intake of vitamin B12 contributes to the proper development of the baby’s central nervous system. The rest of the vitamin contributions are essential for the formation of the immune system.
How to test pregnancy vitamins
As we have already mentioned in this buying guide, the best pregnancy vitamins are usually taken once a day. In general, this dose should not be exceeded, as it could have negative effects on both the pregnant mother and the fetus.
Likewise, the standard dose of certain vitamins may cause some side effects, which we will discuss in the FAQs of this comparison and are generally quite mild. Nevertheless, our advice is that, before selecting any type of pregnancy vitamin, consult with your doctor or pharmacist.
Product Evaluation
The best pregnancy vitamins are essential throughout the woman’s gestation period. However, some of them, such as folic acid, are also recommended for women who want to get pregnant.
In this comparison of pregnancy vitamins with the best quality-price ratio, we have talked about the main manufacturers. In principle, you should not have a problem with any multivitamin. However, some components of the formula may contain gluten, lactose, fish, or eggs. Ingredients that some women may not tolerate.
For all these reasons, it is crucial that you check the technical sheet of each model for both its composition and characteristics and specifications. Don’t forget to compare the different products that we bring you below!
Advantages and disadvantages of pregnancy vitamins
Advantages
• Help prevent fetal malformations.
• Provide all the extra vitamins and minerals that the future mom needs during preconception, gestational, and lactation stages.
• Help reduce fatigue and tiredness.
• Easy to take.
• There are pregnancy vitamins suitable for vegans, celiacs, diabetics, and those intolerant to lactose.
• Many manufacturers are committed to 100% natural products.
• Generally, with a single tablet, you are ingesting dozens of vitamins and minerals.
• Last for 1 month, although you can choose larger containers.
• With the online subscription, this product can be delivered punctually every month, freeing you from one more concern.
Disadvantages
• In no case can you exceed the recommended daily amount.
• Before ingesting any type of pregnancy vitamins, it is advisable to consult with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Due to their high omega-3 content, they may have a certain fishy smell.
• They can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea.
• Some tablets are too large and therefore more difficult to swallow.
• It is necessary to check their composition to ensure that you tolerate all the ingredients.
Buying criteria
In this comparison of pregnancy vitamins with the best quality-price ratio, we have mentioned both their pros and cons. However, in addition to considering these aspects, you should analyze the criteria that we present below, which, according to experts, you should not overlook:
Types of capsules
If you experience nausea, it is recommended to look for products that contain soft capsules. This way, it will be much easier for you to swallow them, ensuring that you receive the extra vitamins that both your body and your baby need.
Easy absorption
If your body rejects certain types of food, opt for the best easily absorbable pregnancy vitamins. This way, you will ensure that your body absorbs all the nutrients you are taking.
Essential vitamins
Ensure that the product’s label includes the essential vitamins we have discussed throughout this comparison. However, there are certain studies that do not recommend the consumption of vitamin A, which is sometimes included in these multivitamins, during the first trimester of pregnancy. It is best to consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have doubts.
Origin of nutrients
Make sure that the chosen product is free of elements that could be harmful. Our recommendation is to opt for the best pregnancy vitamins with 100% natural ingredients. Their quality will then be unquestionable.
What alternatives are there to pregnancy vitamins?
The best alternative to pregnancy vitamins is found in the diet you follow in your day-to-day life. You can obtain vitamins and minerals from the different foods you cook with your kitchen robot. However, the result may not be similar to that achieved with the best pregnancy vitamins, and therefore, you may not get the recommended extra intake.
You can find folic acid in green leafy vegetables and legumes, while vitamin B12 is only found in animal-derived foods and some seaweed. Iron is obtained from red meats and certain legumes; calcium is found in dairy and fish with bones; and iodine is present in iodized table salt and certain fish. Vitamins A and C are present in fruits and vegetables, and zinc is in egg yolks.
Remember that, according to specialists, going for a walk is the best way to get vitamin D.
Physical store or online store. Where is it preferable to buy pregnancy vitamins?
Buying pregnancy vitamins is not an easy decision. Remember that it is most recommended to do it under medical supervision. Once you are clear about which pregnancy vitamins to buy, it is best to do it online.
Platforms like Amazon allow you to subscribe, and thus, a new bottle of tablets will arrive every month. In addition, the quality-price ratio for online purchases of these products is much more competitive. Receive them at your home and worry only about being well and taking care of yourself as much as possible.
FAQ
When should I start taking pregnancy vitamins?
Experts recommend planning pregnancy as much as possible. In this way, the woman should inform her doctor of the decision to become a mother to start taking folic acid. According to expert opinions, healthy women should take a supplement of 0.4 milligrams or 400 micrograms of this component to prevent malformations in the fetus’s neural tube. If you have anemia or a lack of any other vitamin, the doctor may recommend a specific treatment to address this deficiency.
What if I become pregnant unexpectedly?
In this case, you should start taking folic acid as soon as possible. Therefore, it is advisable to schedule an urgent consultation with your doctor for the necessary tests to ensure that the pregnancy is progressing well. Keep in mind that most likely, during that consultation, your doctor will prescribe the best pregnancy vitamins.
What precautions should I take with pregnancy vitamins if I am taking another medication?
According to experts, the best pregnancy vitamins can interact with medication you may need to take regularly. In these cases, it will be necessary for your doctor to adjust the dose.
What can happen if I exceed the recommended dose of pregnancy vitamins?
You should know that an excess of vitamin A can cause harm to your baby, so it is essential not to exceed the recommended dose, which, according to experts, should be followed. In women who have had babies with neural tube defects, they may need to take a slightly higher dose of folic acid. In these cases, it is best for the doctor to prescribe the recommended daily amount.
Can I take non-specific multivitamins for pregnancy during this stage?
No, as the best vitamin supplements are not formulated for pregnant women or those planning to become pregnant. In fact, the content of vitamins they provide may be either lower or higher than recommended in these crucial stages of a woman’s life.
Can pregnancy vitamins have side effects?
According to experts, it is quite likely that you may experience some side effects, such as constipation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or cold-like symptoms.
