Do Prenatal Vitamins That Won’t Make Nausea Worse Exist?
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Pregnancy is a beautiful journey, but it can also bring its share of challenges, especially when it comes to maintaining your health and well-being. One common hurdle many expectant mothers face is managing nausea, which unfortunately can be exacerbated by the essential prenatal vitamins needed for a healthy pregnancy. If you’re struggling to keep your vitamins down or finding that they make your nausea worse, know that you are not alone. As a mom who experienced horrendous nausea and vomiting during my second pregnancy, I remember the struggle like it was yesterday. So, today we’re going to explore some of the ingredients in prenatal vitamins that might trigger your nausea and how you can find prenatal vitamins that won’t make nausea worse.
This post may contain affiliate links from which I receive a commission if you click or make a purchase. In addition, the information on this site is NOT intended to be medical advice. Please seek professional medical care if needed. See my full policy for more information.
When I was pregnant with my second child, I experienced nausea like never before. What started with a few mornings of morning sickness quickly developed into an all-day, debilitating sickness where I couldn’t even keep my prenatal vitamins down. This kind of ‘morning sickness’ is commonly known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Fortunately, after working with my OBGYN for the first 9.5 weeks of pregnancy, we finally found a way to control my sickness. And, we had found a prenatal vitamin that didn’t require me to swallow any big pills.
Between finally minimizing my symptoms and taking a prenatal vitamin that could be blended into my food or drinks I was able to ensure I was meeting my nutritional needs during pregnancy.
Common Prenatal Vitamin Ingredients That Can Cause Nausea
I know I’m not the only mom who has faced the feeling of barely being able to keep down my food during pregnancy. I know I’m not the only mom who was trying to keep her vitamins down because I wanted to support my baby’s growth and nutritional needs. So, let’s begin breaking down what ingredients can possibly cause your nausea to feel worse.
1) Iron
- Iron is crucial for preventing anemia in pregnancy, but it can also be notorious for causing an upset stomach and nausea. This happens because iron supplements can irritate the stomach lining, especially when taken on an empty stomach.
- So, how can you be sure you’re getting enough iron? It’s important to note that The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends consuming 27mg/day. Labwork can show you whether or not you’re deficient in iron or any other minerals and vitamins. You can use the only direct-to-consumer Anemia Test from Labcorp OnDemand. All you do is purchase your test, go to one of 2,000 Labcorp locations to submit your sample, and get results online that you can share with your healthcare provider. And if you naturally consume an iron-rich diet, you might not need to consume a prenatal with iron in it (or it might worsen your nausea side effects), but be sure to collaborate with your health care provider to make the best decision.
2) Folic Acid/Folate
- This key ingredient (along with folate) is probably the most talked about in the prenatal world. After all, it is vital for preventing neural tube defects, but some forms of synthetic folate can be difficult to digest, leading to gastrointestinal discomfort, including nausea, ugh!
Health Benefits of Prenatal Vitamins
Now that we know why some prenatal vitamins can worsen your feelings of sickness and nausea, let’s talk a little about some of these vitamins’ important roles and why you shouldn’t skip them. Instead, try a new one with the help and guidance of your prenatal team or healthcare provider. Then, we’ll break down 3 of the best prenatal vitamins for moms experiencing a sensitive stomach.
Key Ingredients and Their Benefits:
- Folate: Prevents neural tube defects, and supports DNA and red blood cell synthesis, and cell division in the developing baby.
- Vitamin B6: Supports baby’s brain and nervous system development, and DNA synthesis. For moms, some research supports B6 minimizing nausea and boosting a positive mood.
- Calcium: Helps build the baby’s bones, and teeth, and in some cases can help to prevent preeclampsia and preterm births.
- Choline: Support a healthy pregnancy by helping your baby’s brain and spinal cord develop properly. For moms, choline can help maintain a healthy metabolism and blood pressure.
- Vitamin D: Assists in calcium absorption and supports immune, and respiratory function for baby.
- DHA: Very important for fetal development and maternal health, such as hormonal and mood-balancing effects.
Prenatal Vitamins for Pregnant Women That Shouldn’t Make Your Nausea Worse
Needed Prenatal Multi
Needed’s prenatal was made with the mission to help pregnant moms consume the highest quality nutrients they actually need. Partnering with healthcare practitioners, they created a prenatal vitamin that includes the ideal nutrient form that your body can best use, the best source of that nutrient for mama, and the optimal dosage that a pregnant woman would need during pregnancy.
Why we love it: I love that Needed is heavily backed by research and clinical experience from healthcare practitioners along with being third-party tested. Their prenatal includes 24 optimally dosed vitamins and minerals to support both pregnancy and postpartum. They exclude ingredients like Omega-3 and Iron because it is better absorbed to take separately. They also exclude unnecessary fillers and low-quality ingredients.
Form(s) it comes in: Capsule and Powder (their powder form mixes well with your favorite beverages and tends to be much easier to consume if dealing with nausea or vomiting).
PROS:
- Third party tested for purity and potency
- Optimally dosed ingredients
- Best bioavailable forms of each ingredient for maximum absorption
- Subscription available (which includes a 15% discount)
CONS:
- Doesn’t have Omega-3 or Iron (but this is intentional)
Pink Stork Liquid Prenatal + Postnatal
Pink Stork creating their liquid prenatal + postnatal for moms who struggle to take capsule form vitamin supplements. Their supplement contains 14 OBGYN recommended vitamins all sourced from organic whole-food blends. Because it’s formulated as a liquid, it offers better absorption than capsule or pill form. It is made in a delicious berry flavor, so you can take it alone or mix it into your favorite drinks like orange juice, tea, etc…Lastly, this prenatal supplement is made without caffeine, gluten, wheat, dairy, soy, shellfish, or GMOs.
Why we love it: We love that Pink Stork created a prenatal that can be used before and after birth in a form that’s easily consumable for pregnant moms. We also love that they source from whole foods such as green leafy vegetables and fruits.
Form(s) it comes in: Liquid
PROS:
- Easy to consume
- Easy to mix into a drink
- Uses folate instead of folic acid (the synthetic form of folate)
CONS:
- Does not contain DHA
New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Multivitamin
Taking a daily prenatal vitamin can feel so challenging when you’re dealing with nausea and sickness, luckily New Chapter is another brand with a great prenatal multivitamin to consider. Just like Pink Stork, it doesn’t contain DHA, so you’ll want to supplement that separately. This prenatal is made with high-quality, organic, non-GMO ingredients and doesn’t include any added sugar or animal gelatin.
New Chapter’s Prenatal Multivitamin includes key vitamins, some which include vitamins A, B, C, D3, Folate, and 100% daily value of iron. More importantly, they utilize fermented whole-food nutrients so that it’s gentle on your stomach.
Why we love it: We love the emphasis on prioritizing a mother’s health by creating a gentle formula along with being an affordable prenatal option.
Form(s) it comes in: tablet
PROS:
- Affordable
- Great for every trimester
CONS:
- Does not contain DHA
- The dose is 3 tablets a day (despite being gentle, it might still trigger nausea by swallowing a tablet)
Finding the right prenatal vitamin during your pregnancy might feel complicated. One has enough vitamin D, but not enough folate. One has all the b vitamins, but no iron. What’s most important is finding a prenatal with an optimal dosing of the majority of important vitamins and minerals that support pregnancy, and then supplementing the rest through dietary supplements and/or a well-balanced diet. This list should narrow down the options for you. And as you nourish your body and growing baby, you’re one step closer to meeting that beautiful bundle of joy.
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