When a person becomes pregnant, it can feel like there are a million rules in place that weren’t there before. It seems that everyone has different ideas about what foods should and should not be eaten, how much physical activity should be had, and what type of routine to take. Finding a nutritional plan is no exception. Many physicians recommend prenatal vitamins while pregnant to promote healthy infant development and support the body during pregnancy. There are several vitamins that physicians recommend specifically for pregnancy. Vitamins that are specifically recommended for pregnancy include folic acid, iron, calcium, and vitamin D.

Folic acid promotes red blood cell formation, healthy cell growth, and brain function. In pregnancy, folic acid may reduce birth defects like the deformation of the brain and spine. Pregnant women may be at particular risk of developing an iron deficiency and anemia during pregnancy, so an iron supplement may be recommended. Iron deficiency during pregnancy can be associated with prenatal births, low baby weight at birth, and increased rates of postpartum depression in women. Calcium is associated with bone strength. Calcium in pregnancy can be particularly useful in helping an infant’s vital structures, such as their skeleton and organs, to grow strong. Calcium may also help in developing an infant’s heart, muscles, and nerves. Vitamin D also assists with bone strength by enabling the body to absorb calcium. Therefore, Vitamin D may also help a baby's bones, teeth, kidneys, heart, and nervous system to develop properly.

While Better Family is not a liquid prenatal vitamin, our general multivitamin in liquid form is safe and effective for the entire family. Other vitamins that may be helpful during pregnancy are vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, B vitamins, zinc, and iodine. Although Better Family is not a prenatal liquid multivitamin specifically, our blend does contain vitamin A, vitamin B complex, Vitamin D, zinc, and iodine. 

When To Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins

One of the most common questions is when to start taking prenatal vitamins. People who are looking to conceive may start taking a prenatal vitamin from the moment they start trying conception. Taking prenatal vitamins before you become pregnant may yield the most ideal results. However, taking prenatal vitamins for pregnancy immediately after learning you are pregnant is better than never. The best organic prenatal vitamins may contain a blend of different vitamins to ensure that a variety of vitamins and minerals are being supplemented, creating a simple experience for the pregnant person. The One a Day prenatal is an example of one multivitamin that fills a majority of prenatal vitamin and supplement requirements. 

One of the best prenatal vitamins with folic acid has been suggested as the Full Well prenatal vitamin. However, the Full Well prenatal vitamin supplements can be very costly for most families. Additionally, it doesn’t contain iron or an omega 3 profile, which is a fatty acid helpful for brain function. The noninclusion of iron could be seen as a benefit, as many people do receive an adequate amount of iron in their diet. Overconsuming a mineral or vitamin, in some cases, can be just as harmful as having a deficiency, therefore be sure to choose a prenatal vitamin that is the best fit for your lifestyle. Full Well includes folic acid in the form of methylfolate which is a more absorbable form of the nutrient. However, liquid vitamins have been shown to yield more benefits than capsules if taken sublingually. 

Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, is one of the omega-3 fatty acids that is not included in Full Well. However, many people may be on the lookout for the best prenatal vitamins with DHA. During pregnancy, DHA can help a baby's eyes and brain develop. However, not all prenatal vitamins contain DHA. One of the best prenatal vitamins with DHA is considered to be the Perelel Prenatal Packs, which formulate a different kind of vitamin specific to the trimester of pregnancy. 

Are Liquid Prenatal Vitamins Better

Vitamins can come in many forms, some of the most popular being liquid, powder, chewable, or capsule. Better Family specializes in liquid vitamins. However, the question is, are liquid prenatal vitamins better than other kinds of vitamins? Liquid vitamins can offer anywhere from 60% - 70% better absorption than capsule vitamins when taken sublingually. Tasteless liquid vitamins can also be mixed into any drink, allowing for flavor control. Tastes can change rapidly and strongly during pregnancy, so it's important that a vitamin be adaptable to the daily routine. While Better Family doesn’t offer a prenatal liquid vitamin specifically, we do believe in the power of liquid vitamins. Pink Stork liquid prenatal reviews may tell you that many people who took the vitamins benefited from the liquid formula and found them easier to consume than capsule or powder vitamins. 

Taking liquid vitamins over another form means that they are also quite literally easier to swallow. Many types of vitamins or multivitamins require the user to swallow multiple pills per day. With a liquid vitamin, it is only necessary to swallow one time, and people who are not able to take pills are able to use liquid vitamins. Using a liquid prenatal vitamin comes with some prebuilt flexibility in the sense that while the vitamins remain the same, the liquid that you can take them in can change every day. This still allows for control and fluidity of your own diet.

Best Liquid Prenatal

Organic prenatal vitamins may be a good source of vitamins and minerals that are lacking in a pregnant person’s regular diet. Pregnancy can be very taxing on the body, and it is recommended that a pregnant person take an increased dosage of certain vitamins and minerals to aid their body in creating a healthy baby. There are many resources on the internet dedicated to identifying the best prenatal vitamins. Prenatal vitamins are usually not free, and they may not be a one-size-fits-all solution. For example, some of the best liquid prenatal vitamins are not vegan because they use DHA and EHA from fish. However, totally vegan-friendly prenatal vitamins do exist because it is possible to acquire DHA from algae rather than fish. However, using vegan products is not a priority for everyone. Some vitamin mixtures include or exclude certain profiles, so it’s important to know what your body needs and follow the recommendations of your physician. 

Some of the top prenatal vitamins for 2022 were selected by doctors and broken down into categories. The best prenatal vitamin overall was selected to be the One a Day Prenatal 1 Complete Multivitamin. The best prenatal vitamin with iron was determined to be Pink Stork Total Prenatal + DHA. This was not a liquid vitamin, rather it was a pill. Pink Stork also delivers liquid prenatal vitamins. However, their vitamins are specifically formulated for pregnancy and those trying to conceive. Better Family is a liquid multivitamin suitable for all ages, from toddlers to elderly people. While pregnant people may still benefit from taking Better Family liquid vitamins, as it contains many of the recommended vitamins for pregnant people, it is not formulated specifically for pregnancy. 

Pink Stork was also selected as the best liquid prenatal vitamin. However, the liquid version of their prenatal vitamin does not contain DHA.

Best Gummy Prenatal Vitamins

While liquid vitamins provide great absorbency benefits, many may not be familiar with them. Most of the best prenatal vitamins found in grocery stores are gummies or pills simply because these are more traditional methods of supplementation. However, liquid prenatal vitamins can provide better and faster absorption than a pill or gummy. A common example of a gummy vitamin would be one such as the Nature Made prenatal vitamin, which is delivered in both a gummy and pill form. One of the best gummy prenatal vitamins that comes highly recommended is the Vitafusion Prenatal Gummy Vitamins. It’s affordable, high in Vitamin D, and is reported to have good taste. However, it doesn’t contain calcium or iron, so your physician should be consulted if supplementing additionally is necessary. When taking prenatal vitamins, gummy forms can be beneficial if the taste is important. 

While the best prenatal vitamins with folic acid may not have a gummy option, liquid vitamins are ones that can be taken in any liquid to influence their taste. Better Family’s liquid vitamin is lightly flavored, so that it can be absorbed under the tongue and then washed down with a favorite beverage. One of the best prenatal vitamins with DHA, Vitafusion, does have a gummy option and includes several recommended vitamins.

Powder Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins can also come in a different form - powder. People may prefer powder prenatal vitamins to mix into smoothies or other soft foods such as applesauce. Pink Stork liquid prenatal reviews might tell you that one of the reasons they may not continue to use the product is the taste and smell. While the product is formulated to be attractive and tasty, every person has different tastes, and pregnant people can have strong reactions to smell and taste. This would be one of the main reasons to invest in a flavorless liquid vitamin over a flavored liquid or powder. While not incredibly common, if the format of vitamin intake is important to you, it may be beneficial to specifically seek out liquid prenatal vitamins with iron to avoid taking powder, pills, or gummies.

One of the benefits of powdered vitamins is that they tend to have a longer shelf life and don’t require refrigeration. However, nutrients are absorbed quicker in a liquid form, and taste is more likely to be poor in powder. This is because powder can impact the texture of the foods that it is mixed with and create a negative experience while consuming. However, many people find that powder prenatal vitamins are a good fit for them and their lifestyles.