Choosing a prenatal supplement

This post doesn’t name or recommend any brand or product, and it isn’t a personal recommendation. It’s a guide to the questions worth asking.

Do you need a prenatal?

Health Canada’s guidance for pregnancy suggests taking a daily multivitamin with folic acid and iron.1 Eating well matters too, and a supplement doesn’t replace food. Whether a particular prenatal suits you depends on your health, your diet and anything else you take, which is a good thing to talk through with your care team.

What to look for on the label

• Folic acid. The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends a daily multivitamin with 400 mcg (0.4 mg) of folic acid for anyone who could become pregnant, and notes that some people need a higher dose.2 Check the label shows folic acid, and how much.
• Iron. Health Canada’s reference value for iron is 27 mg a day in pregnancy, with an upper limit of 45 mg a day.3 Check how much iron is in the product, and add up everything you take so you stay within safe limits.
• A form you can tolerate. Nausea and strong smells are common in pregnancy, and some capsules are large. If one is hard to take, ask about other formats, like chewables, powders or liquids.
• Everything else in the product. A pharmacist or your care team can help you compare labels, and check for interactions with medications.

When to start and when to stop

The Public Health Agency of Canada says folic acid should ideally be started at least 3 months before pregnancy, and continued throughout pregnancy and while breastfeeding.2 The SOGC guideline recommends starting for at least 2 to 3 months before conception.4 What’s right for you after birth, including how long to continue, is worth checking with your care team, especially if you’re breastfeeding.

Where I come in

If you’re planning a pregnancy, or you’re pregnant, I’m happy to look over what you’re taking with you and talk through questions to bring to your doctor or midwife.