A pregnant woman must provide nutrients, either through diet or supplements, for herself and her fetus, so beginning a prenatal vitamin regimen before a woman becomes pregnant is essential. Women who are vegetarians often have trouble finding a prenatal vitamin that contains vitamins and minerals with vegetarian or vegan sources. Some concerns about vitamin and mineral deficiencies for vegetarian women include not getting enough vitamin B12, zinc, iron, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and the vitamin D necessary to aid with calcium absorption. Fortunately, some prenatal vitamins are now designed to meet their needs.
Deva Vegan Prenatal Formula
Deva Vegan Prenatal Multivitamins are animal-free and certified as 100 percent vegetarian and vegan by the Vegan Society. Because vitamin B12 is primarily found in meat products, it is difficult for vegetarians and vegans to obtain enough B12 through diet alone, so this prenatal formula provides a high dose of B12. It also contains folic acid, essential for healthy fetal development; vitamin C to prevent leg cramps and nausea in early pregnancy; and vitamin E to help prevent birth defects. Vitamin A is provided as water-soluble, non-toxic beta carotene. Vitamin D facilitates calcium metabolism and is provided as vitamin D2, the only vegan source of D. B vitamins are necessary for mental and physical health during pregnancy, according to a 2008 Psychology Today article by Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., so Deva Prenatal provides proper doses of B vitamins, including B6 and biotin. It contains choline, necessary for fetal brain development; and minerals, such as iron, iodine, zinc, selenium, copper and manganese to benefit fetal growth and development.
Freeda Prenatal
Freeda Prenatal Vitamins are vegetarian, Kosher and formulated for pregnant women who only want to take one tablet daily. Some pregnant women have trouble swallowing large pills, but they must find a way to obtain the nutrients they need. Freeda Vitamins offers Mini Prenatal with four tiny tablets equal to one regular Freeda Prenatal One Daily. As it is not possible for one tablet to provide all the calcium required, you will need to take a calcium supplement, or you can try Freeda's 3 tablets a day prenatal formula with 1000 mg of calcium. One of Freeda's prenatal vitamin provides A vitamins that are pure beta carotene with no synthetics. One option has no A vitamins, because some women worry about an overdose of vitamin A, which can be toxic and cause birth defects, such as facial and nerve abnormalities, according to the American Pregnancy website.
RainbowLight Vegetarian Prenatal Vitamins
RainbowLight Vegetarian Prenatal Vitamins are formulated to help with the health of a pregnant woman and her developing fetus. Even though you should try to get most of your nutrients from a healthy balanced diet, pregnant women may not get all the vitamins and minerals they need. Doctors often prescribe a prenatal multivitamin supplement since some of the nutrients your body needs most during pregnancy are lacking, such as iron, calcium, folic acid, D vitamins and B vitamins, according to Aetna Women's Health. This is especially important for vegetarian and vegan women who may have nutritional deficits, so supplementing your diet with a vegetarian prenatal vitamin may help reduce the risk of some birth defects. RainbowLight Prenatal vitamins are formulated to help with stress management and energy production for you, and healthy brain, heart and immune function of your developing baby.
RainbowLight claims its Complete Prenatal System is made for women who prefer to take only one pill per day. It provides mother and baby with all-natural essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients plus botanicals and millions of bioactive probiotics.
Other Vegetarian Prenatal Vitamins
Other vegetarian prenatal vitamins include Super Nutrition Simply One Prenatal Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Supplement, Healthy Belly Essentials and Maternal Symmetry.
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