Choosing the right over-the-counter prenatal vitamin can be overwhelming, but it’s important to ensure it includes the right nutrients, consider pill size and frequency, and factor in cost. Most contain similar minerals, but amounts vary, so consult a doctor. Calcium may need to be supplemented separately. Accessibility and cost should also be considered.
Every pregnant woman should take a daily prenatal vitamin, either by prescription or over the counter. If she chooses the latter, she may feel overwhelmed by the number of options available, but there are a few ways to narrow down her selection. First, you need to make sure that the over-the-counter prenatal vitamins you’re considering include the right amount of nutrients for pregnant women. You should also consider her preferences when it comes to the type of pill and the frequency of ingestion. Finally, she must include the cost in her decision, since she will be taking the vitamins for almost a year, perhaps longer if she breastfeeds.
Most over-the-counter prenatal vitamins include roughly the same types of minerals, but the amount of each often varies. Most supplements contain vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, and B12, as well as zinc, iron, niacin, folate, thiamin, riboflavin, and calcium. Some brands add more of a certain mineral to their vitamins than others, such as iron or folic acid, so ask your doctor if such over-the-counter prenatal vitamins would be beneficial for you. Also, keep in mind that most vitamins do not contain the adequate amount of calcium for pregnant women, since the addition of this mineral often makes the pills quite large, so consider taking a calcium supplement as well.
If you have trouble swallowing large pills, you should find out the size of over-the-counter prenatal vitamins before you buy them. If you don’t like swallowing pills, consider over-the-counter chewable prenatal vitamins, as they often have a pleasant taste and are better tolerated by pregnant women who cannot swallow regular pills. You can also take the liquid form, but be aware that some contain herbs not recommended for pregnant women, so check with your doctor and check reviews before going this route. You may also be surprised to find that some types of over-the-counter prenatal vitamins require you to take more than one a day, sometimes as many as six, so be sure to find the recommended dosage if you don’t think you can fit that many pills into your daily routine.
Accessibility should also be considered, especially if you’re not yet pregnant or planning to breastfeed, since you’ll likely be taking over-the-counter prenatal vitamins for at least a year. Most people like to save money during pregnancy as having a child is quite expensive so spending a lot of money on a pill for more than nine months is not recommended unless you have budgeted for it. Keep in mind that just because one pill is more expensive than another does not mean it is better. Instead, compare the ingredients of the more expensive brands with those of the store brands. If they’re about the same and your doctor doesn’t have a problem with you taking the cheaper brand, you should be fine to save money by buying the less expensive version.
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