Not all Prenatal Multivitamins Are Created Equal: Your 101 Guide

Reviewed by Dr. Lisa Czanko MD, MPH

We can all agree that preparing for pregnancy can be overwhelming. With learning all the new lingo, researching fertility options, having pillow talk with your partner or conversations with your doctor, and figuring out how best to stay healthy— your head is probably spinning.

One thing you can check off your to-do list is finding a prenatal multivitamin. Easier said than done with all the options out there today, right? That’s where SimpleHealth’s medical experts come in.

We knew we wanted to create the ultimate prenatal multivitamin. A simple choice that would take the pressure off of needing to research a million brands or read a bunch of articles. Something packed with everything you and your baby need for a healthy, prosperous pregnancy.

So we talked to doctors, reviewed the research, and leveled up your grandma’s prenatal vitamin. Here’s why SimpleHealth’s Prenatal Multivitamin it’s a no-brainer.

Why SimpleHealth’s Prenatal Multivitamin is Different 

There are so many supplement options out there it can be frustrating to wade through the options and know who to trust. It’s also a little intimidating making such an important decision on your own. 

So we did the legwork and created SimpleHealth’s Prenatal Multivitamin with your best interests in mind. You can rest easy in your choice knowing you're getting a healthy mix of vitamins and minerals to support both your health and your baby’s.

1. Easy to get down and keep down

You may have seen that scene in Baby Mama in which Amy Poehler is trying to, but can not, take the giant horse pill prenatal vitamin Tina Fey insists she takes.

It’s not so far off from reality. We found some prenatal vitamins to be, well, gross. Far too big, smelly, and nausea-inducing (which for some first-trimester moms simply adds insult to injury).

For all of these reasons, we formulated the Prenatal Multivitamin in small easy-to-swallow capsules and added a small amount of ginger to help relieve nausea. On top of that, the bottle contains a pleasant all-natural citrus scented insert to mask any vitamin scent. 

2. No added nonsense

We found that some companies go the cheap route to save a few dollars, but we went the extra mile to ensure we purchased only the highest quality ingredients to put in our Prenatal Multivitamin.

Our Prenatal Multivitamin is vegan, gluten free, and does not contain any artificial ingredients. 

3. Doctor-formulated

Instead of scouring endless pregnancy blogs for the right mix of vitamins to take, sometimes you just need an expert on your side. Our Prenatal Multivitamin is doctor-formulated and research-backed to ensure it contains the necessary nutrients at the right doses for you and baby.

Here’s a comprehensive list of what’s included and why we included it.

• Vitamin A: Supports healthy skin, eyesight, and bone development
• Vitamin C: Supports healthy teeth, gums, bones, and immune system as well as muscle development; Has antioxidant properties; Possibly decreases risk of fetal growth problems and preterm birth
• Vitamin D: Supports healthy bones, teeth, skin, and eyesight; May decrease risk of preeclampsia and preterm birth 
• Vitamin E: Has antioxidant properties; May prevent cell damage and decrease risk of preeclampsia 
• Vitamin K: Supports blood clotting and bone health
• Thiamin: Supports fetal growth and development; May help with low energy 
• Riboflavin: Supports fetal growth and development; May help with low energy; Helps build the placenta
• Niacin: Supports fetal growth and development; May help with low energy; Helps build the placenta; Promotes good vision
• Vitamin B6: Aids in red blood cell formation; Helps the body use carbohydrates, fats, and protein; May support fetal growth; May decrease risk of blood clots
• Folic acid: Helps prevent brain and spine development defects; Supports growth and development of the fetus and placenta
• Vitamin B12: Supports red blood cell formation and nervous system development; May help with low energy
• Biotin: Supports metabolism; Helps build the placenta
• Pantothenic acid: May help with low energy; Helps build the placenta; May support fetal growth; Promotes good vision 
• Calcium: Supports strong bones and teeth; May help prevent maternal high blood pressure and preeclampsia 
• Iron: Supports oxygen delivery to fetus; May help prevent maternal and child death; May help prevent low birth weight 
• Iodine: Support fetal brain development; May help prevent hypothyroidism
• Magnesium: May help prevent preeclampsia and preterm delivery; May help prevent cleft lip
• Zinc: May help prevent preeclampsia and preterm delivery
• Omega 3: Supports brain and nervous system development
• Choline: Supports brain and spine development

Yes, choosing a prenatal multivitamin can add to the stress of pregnancy, but it doesn’t have to. You got this far: knowing you have to take one and doing a bit of research to find the perfect source. Let SimpleHealth take it from here. Our doctors and medical experts are excited to offer a smart, comprehensive Prenatal Multivitamin that makes your life (and pregnancy) a bit simpler.

Citations

Adams JB, Sorenson JC, Pollard EL, Kirby JK, Audhya T. Evidence-Based Recommendations for an Optimal Prenatal Supplement for Women in the U.S., Part Two: Minerals. Nutrients. 2021;13(6):1849. Published 2021 May 28. doi:10.3390/nu13061849

American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Nutrition During Pregnancy. Updated March 2021. Accessed January 30, 2022. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/nutrition-during-pregnancy

Black RE. Micronutrients in pregnancy. Br J Nutr. 2001;85 Suppl 2:S193-S197. doi:10.1079/bjn2000314

Cetin I, Berti C, Calabrese S. Role of micronutrients in the periconceptional period. Hum Reprod Update. 2010;16(1):80-95. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmp025

Keats EC, Haider BA, Tam E, Bhutta ZA. Multiple-micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;3(3):CD004905. Published 2019 Mar 14. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004905.pub6

Oh C, Keats EC, Bhutta ZA. Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation During Pregnancy on Maternal, Birth, Child Health and Development Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2020;12(2):491. Published 2020 Feb 14. doi:10.3390/nu12020491

Ramakrishnan, U., Grant, F., Goldenberg, T., Zongrone, A. and Martorell, R. (2012), Effect of Women's Nutrition before and during Early Pregnancy on Maternal and Infant Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 26: 285-301. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3016.2012.01281.x

US Department of Health and Human Services. Biotin Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Updated January 10, 2022. Accessed February 2, 2022. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Biotin-HealthProfessional/

US Department of Health and Human Services, Niacin Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Updated March 26, 2021. Accessed February 2, 2022. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Niacin-HealthProfessional/

US Department of Health and Human Services, Pantothenic Acid Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Updated March 26, 2021. Accessed February 2, 2022. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/PantothenicAcid-HealthProfessional/

US Department of Health and Human Services. Thiamin Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Updated March 26, 2021. Accessed February 2, 2022. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Thiamin-HealthProfessional/

US Department of Health and Human Services. Vitamin E Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Updated March 26, 2021. Accessed February 2, 2022. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/

US Department of Health and Human Services. Vitamin K Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Updated March 29, 2021. Accessed February 2, 2022. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminK-HealthProfessional/