Over the Counter PreNatal Vitamins

The best ones are Stuart brand, but they are quite expensive (over $20 per bottle). You can get the same ingredients in even the Longs brand for about $8 per bottle. If you have Kaiser, they have a good generic brand for $5 as well. I also highly recommend taking Expecta while you're pregnant and nursing. It has DHA in it and I'm convinced that is part of the reason why my son is so smart. It's great for brain/eye development.

Hello,

I HIGHLY recommend East West Essentials Prenatal vitamins. They are nautral, easy to take and do not upset my stomach like so many others! They are available in select pharmacays but I prefer to buy them online at www.eastwestessentials.com

My OB said that Nature Made was a good OTC brand.

I take "Just Once" Prenatal Vitamin by Rainbow Light. They sell them in all Whole Foods. I love them because you only have to take 1 a day. With a lot of the OTC prenatals, you have to take like 6 a day. It also has everything in it!

Most Vitamins are all made in the same factories and leave the factories with different labels. I used the Kirkland ones from costco and they were fine.

Naturemade, i get them at costco.

I am a mom of 8 month old twins & they are still breastfeeding 4+ times a day each. I've tried lots of prenatals, but Vitality for Life are the best. They are so effective & cost less than prescription brand. If you'd like, I can send you some recent research done on them. After finding out that many big name brands & packs you get at Costco are ineffective, I've decided to stick with the ones I take now. Did you know that only 10% of nutrients are absorbed by the body in brands like Centrum and One-a-Day? They are also known to create free radicals. Yuck. I've been recommending these to all of my friends who are pregnant & nursing. You'll physically feel the difference. These have the highest absorption rate: 85%. Worth every dime.

My OB said any multi vitamin fomulated for women would work. I use One a Day that I buy from Costco. I'm sure a generic would be fine too.

I used the Safeway/Vons brand. They were like $13 for a 3 month supply. They are once a day and the best part was that they were guaranteed to dissolve in 30 minutes. Vitamins always make me sick, even if I take them at night. So, these were perfect.

I like the Walgreens Brand-- they are not too strong and they are easy to swallow.

Hi M.!

I'd recommend SuperNutrition preNatal Blend. I've been taking SuperNutrition vitamins for ten years. Initially, that brand was referred to me by a naturopath, and, while they are on the pricer side, I belive that this is a case where you do get what you pay for. They're they best that I have found. You can buy them at many health food stores, including Whole Foods. I just stock up when they go on sale.

From their website:

"SuperNutrition offers consumers a full money-back guarantee at point of purchase if you do not feel a significant improvement in their health and well-being after taking the full dose of any of their formulas for 30 days."

http://www.supernutritionusa.com/our_family.html

And congrats on your new baby!!!

I'm a customer with Melaleuca. They have great natural vitamins. I used their prenatal & now I use the regular vitamins. They have tons of stuff. All natural & non toxic. You order over the internet. If you want more info just contact me.

Good luck,
M.

I am a distributor for Sunrider. Their vitamins have the best binders. It is a reliable company and I highly recomend them. A lot of vitamins are synthetic and are made from petroleum and are hard on the body.

Let me know if you would like more info.

God Bless!

J.
____@____.com
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I also took spring valley bought them at wal-mart and they are a great deal plus I had to take them to a WIC appt with a nutritionist and they said they looked good they had enough of whatever they were looking for!

I liked the Kirkland brand from Costco. Just remember to take a stool softener with any prenatal vitamin.

I used Twin Lab Pre-Natal Vitamins. There is a lady on it and it is on a pink label. I bought them on Amazon at a good price. I found them to not irritate my stomach, when I took them with food. I hope you find one that works for you. ~Colette

Shaklee has a vitamin pack called Vitalizer that has the multivitamin, omega 3s, all of the B complex and a probiotic. Perfect for when you're breastfeeding. www.shaklee.net/mclemore

Congrats, M.!
You've got a lot of suggestions here. I've been in the health and nutrition industry for 14 years and have attended 14 nutrition seminars, at least, in that time, in addition to a lot of research, because I wanted to do the best for my babies. What I learned is that if you are not able to determine the source of the vitamins/supplements you are taking, you shouldn't take them. The top nutritional supplement line in the world, (industry statistics, not mine), also the first to create not only a multivitamin, but vitamins for children, is called Nutrilite. They have a 100% satisfaction, money-back guarantee. I'm happy to share some samples with you. =0) Also, my doctors (both my OB and my kids' pediatrician) were insistant on my taking Omega-3's/DHA's throughout my pregnancy and nursing as they help build healthy brain tissue. My site: www.reallygreatstuff.mychoices.biz and the nutrilite site: www.nutrilite.com.
Also, we have an auto ship program and offer everything but your very fresh groceries, including top quality baby care products (free shipping available) that make life much easier for the busy mom. I'd be happy to help you save some time & money in this way, if you'd like. =0)We've got a special for Nov. & Dec.: we're paying sales tax on all orders through Dec. 31st!
Congrats, once again, and enjoy your new bundle of joy!
L. =0)

Hi M.,
Target has a good generic Target Brand prenatal. It actually has more than Nature's Made.

I am very happy with the PreNatal Vitamins from Costco.

2 multivitamin/multimineral Target vitamins are almost identical to a prenatal, for much less! Trader Joe's also has a good prenatal (I had less stomach upset with TJ's than other prenatals, but no stomach problems at all with Target.)

I see that several others have said Rainbow Light (I take the "Just Once") and they are the best I have found.

I had a bleeding ulcer a decade ago so must be careful about being too hard on the ole tumtum. The Just Once is a once a day pill that has NEVER given me even "light heartburn" much less the pain that others have caused me.

Good luck!!

New Chapter is really great. You can get it on iherb for a great discount and free shipping.

I've had good success with the Safeway/Vons brand of prenatal vitamins. You take one once a day, with or without food. They are inexpensive and often on-sale. I just bought a bottle of 300 for under $15.

I take a multi prenatal vitamin by Nature Made. You can get a big bottle from Costco. I've been taking them for years and I haven't had any problems.

M.,

I wish I had known about Melaleuca prenatal vitamins when I was breastfeeding my children! The only woman to successfully deliver, and raise, septuplets (that's right, 7 children) took Melaleuca prenatal vitamins!

I can show you how to get them.

A.

Working at Home to Live a Healthy Life
http://www.WomensDreamTeam.com/Angel

Instead of vitamins I drink MonaVie. It is loaded with nutritian and essential fatty acids. It tastes fabulous too. And, because you keep it in your fridge you don't have to remember to take it each morning. Plus, it is really good for your kids too. You can get more information on my website at www.mymonavie.com/wellwoman. If you like what you see, I can get you a free sample and show you how to purchase it at a discount.

Target brand is good, and also Vons brand.

For OTC prenats, check out Costco.

I love Super Nutrition Prenatal Blend (for pre and post natal woman). I get mine at Henry's. Kind of pricey but it's the best I've found.

Congrats on your new baby!
M.

Rainbow Light or my favorite is BioSpec Ultimate Daily, whis is technically not a prenatal, but it's better than anything I have ever seen....with natural vitamin E and a good source of calcium. I also take a bunch of extra calcium at night and I sleep better and so do my kids. This Mag Mag Plus from Apex Nutritionals has 7 sources of calcium, rather than just one and it has magnesium and host of other things for maximum absorption.

http://www.worldlifesupplements.com/products_main.html
http://www.fenixstopspain.com/ultimate_daily_90tabs.html

Costco usually contains calcium carbonate which does not absorb well, if at all and synthetic vitamin E (dl-apha tocopherol, rather than natural which is d-aplha tocopherol.)

Hi M.. I've always used the Rainbow brand prenatals from Whole Foods. It's the only one that doesn't make me sick.

I think you should consider Promise Stages vitamins over the internet. They have vitamins for every stage of motherhood. Check them out at www.promiseprenatal.com
I take the DHA. My baby's development has been awesome. I now take Replenish. You want vitamins that absorb well into your body and have what you need in them. OTC ones may not be that great. These vitamins are exceptional!

I took the New Chapter Prenatals. They are pricey, but they are made from real whole foods and I believe they are organic. You can get them at Henry's, Wholefoods, Jimbo's, etc.

S.

I used spring valley from walmart for each of my pregnancies. They are fine. and inexpensive too.

Hi M.,
New Chapter Prenatal vitamins are wonderful. They are made from whole foods and therefore are easily digestable. They were the one vitamin that I could take on an empty stomach and not feel sick. I would highly recommend them. They are a bit expensive, but worth it in my opinion.

D.

My OB/GYN said Target brand was fine. That's what I've been taking since before I got pregnant. I am still breastfeeding my 8 mo. old twins, and they are doing very well.

Make sure you get some DHA