Health and fertility experts recommend taking a prenatal supplement prior to conception, throughout pregnancy and continuing through lactation. That's because nutrient needs are especially high during this time. However, the prenatal supplement shelves are crowded—and many prenatal companies are missing the mark with suboptimal ingredient forms and dosages.
In fact, you’d have to take additional supplements (beyond the 6-8 pills you might already be taking!) to get close to hitting the recommended optimal levels. That’s why WeNatal stands out above the rest: just 3 pills once a day with everything BOTH parents and baby need during pregnancy and beyond.
Related: The ultimate His and Hers fertility checklist
How WeNatal is different: 4 nutrients in optimal dosages not found in other prenatals
Found in WeNatal's prenatal: Choline
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WeNatal for Her prenatal contains 400mg choline
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RDA for pregnancy/breastfeeding: 450mg
Choline is similar to B complex vitamins and plays a role in the structure and function of every cell in the body. It is involved in gene expression, preventing neural tube defects, and supporting tissue production. Most importantly, choline is key for proper development of baby’s brain.
Choline is essential leading up to pregnancy and during the first two trimesters, while getting enough choline in the third trimester may actually boost your baby's cognitive function later in life.
New research shows the average daily intake of choline in women ages 20-39 is 285 mg per day, compared to the recommended 450 mg per day. Those who follow a strict vegetarian or vegan diet may have even lower intake because the best sources are animal-based, including whole eggs and liver. Given the average intake, it’s recommended that prenatal supplements contain at least 350 mg of choline.
Yet, despite the known benefits and recommendations, the vast majority of prenatal supplements offer little to no choline at all! WeNatal is one of the only prenatals on the market to offer as much as 400 mg of choline, especially helpful for those who may get less choline from their diet.
Related: Building nutrient reserves before pregnancy—why it's important
Found in WeNatal's prenatal: Iron
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WeNatal for Her prenatal contains 18mg iron in a bioavailable form
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RDA for pregnancy/breastfeeding: 30mg
Iron is required to make hemoglobin in red blood cells, which carries oxygen to all of mom’s tissues. Iron needs double during pregnancy to compensate for the increased blood that’s needed to supply oxygen to the baby. This makes iron especially important during the first and second trimester as red blood cell needs rapidly increase.
Unfortunately, many women of childbearing age are either low or deficient in iron. If mom starts off with a low supply, this will only be made worse as the baby starts to grow, many times leading to iron deficiency anemia. Severe anemia can increase the risk of premature birth, low birthweight, postpartum depression, and even pregnancy loss.
In fact, certified holistic nutritionist, wellness expert, and WeNatal advisor Kelly LeVeque, CCN, says “One of the number one causes of fatigue in postpartum is iron deficiency: not true anemia but suboptimal iron levels.”
For these reasons, we made the decision to add iron to WeNatal for Her to help restore iron levels and prevent iron deficiency anemia in mom and baby.
Found in WeNatal's prenatal: Folate
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WeNatal for Her prenatal contains 1,350 mcg folate
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RDA for pregnancy/breastfeeding: 400 mcg
One of our top tips for knowing if a prenatal is good quality is making sure it contains the correct form of Vitamin B9: methylated folate, folate NOT folic acid. Here is why knowing about the difference is so important…
Around 40% of people have a variation to their MTHFR gene which controls methylation throughout the body. This genetic snip makes it difficult to process the synthetic form of folate, known as folic acid. This means that around half of the population could be putting themselves and their future child’s health at risk without even knowing.
Women need folate for healthy ovulation and egg development. Folate also helps prevent miscarriages, maternal anemia, preeclampsia and can even help prevent postpartum depression. Folate deficiency has been linked to increased risk of neural tube defects, preterm birth, congenital abnormalities, and may even increase risk for congenital heart disease and oral clefts.
In a 2018 study, 30 couples struggling with fertility for at least 4 years, were assessed by researchers. At least one of the partners was a carrier of the MTHFR genetic mutation. The couples were given 600 micrograms of folate per day for 3 months. The results showed that nearly half of the couples (13/30) were able to conceive in just 3 months. These findings are huge and show how powerful and impactful the right nutrition can be for fertility. This is exactly why WeNatal formulas include 5-MTHF, the active form of vitamin B9.
Related: Heartbreak to hope: Why we created WeNatal
Found in WeNatal's prenatal: Vitamin D
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WeNatal for HER contains 4,000 IU
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RDA for pregnancy/breastfeeding: 4,000 IU
Most women are deficient in vitamin D, which is crucial for supporting the growing needs of the baby. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption and is critical for bone growth. Additionally, it plays a role in reducing inflammation and supporting immune function.
Vitamin D deficiency is common among women and plays a crucial role in supporting the growing needs of the baby. Adequate vitamin D levels aid in calcium absorption, which is essential for bone growth. Additionally, research suggests that sufficient vitamin D levels may help reduce the risk of postpartum depression. WeNatal for Her addresses this deficiency by including 4000 IU of vitamin D, ensuring optimal support for both mom and baby.
Studies indicate that maternal postpartum vitamin D supplementation of 28,000 IU per week (4,000 IU per day) effectively improves infant vitamin D status when breastfeeding. WeNatal for Her is one of the few prenatal supplements that contains 4,000 IU of vitamin D to support both mom and baby.
A note from WeNatal: Supplement, not substitute
Despite their importance, prenatal vitamins should not be relied upon as the primary source of nutrients. A healthy and balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins, and healthy fats is essential for overall health and optimal pregnancy outcomes. Whole foods contain a variety of nutrients, as well as fiber and other beneficial compounds that supplements cannot replicate.
Taking a prenatal with the right balance of bioavailable nutrients at each stage of pregnancy is so important. And remember, your nutrient needs don’t stop once your baby is in your arms. In fact, those first few months postpartum and while breastfeeding are particularly demanding on your body. Also, the food you eat and supplements you take today can impact your baby's physical and cognitive health into adulthood. This is why we recommend continuing a prenatal throughout each stage of pregnancy—and beyond.
References
Adams JB, Kirby JK, Sorensen JC, et al. Evidence based recommendations for an optimal prenatal supplement for women in the US: vitamins and related nutrients. Matern health, neonatol and perinatol 8, 4 (2022).
Caudill MA, Strupp BJ, Muscalu L, Nevins JE, Canfield RL. Maternal choline supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy improves infant information processing speed: a randomized, double-blind, controlled feeding study. The FASEB Journal. 2018 Apr;32(4):2172.
Chita DS, Tudor A, Christodorescu R, et al. MTHFR Gene Polymorphisms Prevalence and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Involved in Cardioembolic Stroke Type and Severity. Brain Sci. 2020;10(8):476. Published 2020 Jul 24.
Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®). Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006-. Vitamin D. Updated 2024 Jul 15.
Servy EJ, Jacquesson-Fournols L, Cohen M, Menezo YJ. MTHFR isoform carriers. 5-MTHF (5-methyl tetrahydrofolate) vs folic acid: a key to pregnancy outcome: a case series. Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics. 2018 Aug;35:1431-5.
