Can I Take Gnc Women's Ultra Mega While Pregnant

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Best Prenatal Multivitamins in 2021

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Comparison of 106 Multivitamins Specifically Designed for Pregnant Women

The demands put on the bodies of pregnant women are truly astonishing. During this time, future mothers need not only to meet their own nutritional needs, but also those of their unborn child. While expecting moms need from 15 to 30 percent more calories per day, their need for certain vitamins and minerals increases by as much as 50 percent.¹

In fact, the daily recommended intake (DRI) of 14 out of the 21 essential micronutrients are higher for women expecting a child.² Since it is nearly impossible for pregnant women to meet their nutritional needs from diet alone, they need to take supplements that contain the vitamins and minerals essential for their health, as well as the health of their child.

Effectiveness Scores of Prenatal Multivitamins

The table below provides a summary of the Effectiveness Scores of some of the best prenatal multivitamin brands available on the market. Any product with a score that exceeds 8.0 is considered to be "excellent". For best results, using a prenatal vitamin supplement with a score of 8.0 or above is strongly advised.

Rank	Manufacturer	Product	Score
1	NATURELO Premium Supplements	Whole Food Prenatal Multivitamin	9.5
2	MegaFood	Baby & Me 2 Multivitamin	9.1
3	New Chapter	Perfect Prenatal Multivitamin	8.9
4	Garden of Life	Vitamin Code RAW Prenatal Multivitamin	8.8
5	Metagenics	Wellness Essentials Pregnancy	8.6
6	Douglas Laboratories	Prenatal Pack	8.5
7	Rainbow Light	Complete Prenatal System	8.4
8	Country Life	Maxi Pre-Natal Multi Vitamins	8.2
9	Source Naturals	Mother's Choice Prenatal Multiple	8.0
10	Nutritional Frontier	Multi Prenatal	7.9
11	Davinci Lab	Ultimate Prenatal	7.8
12	Rainbow Light	Prenatal One + DHA Packs	7.7
13	True Fit	Vitamins Prenatal Plus	7.7
14	Pure Essence Labs	Mother To Be Prenatal	7.6
15	Rainbow Light	Prenatal Petite	7.5
16	Vitabase	PreNatal Plus	7.5
17	Solaray	Baby-Me-Now	7.4
18	Biotics Research	Pre-Natal Packs	7.4
19	Trace Minerals Research	Liquid Multi Vitamin-Mineral	7.3
20	Jarrow Formulas	Preg-Natal + DHA Packets	7.2
21	FoodFactsTri	Prenatal Plus	7.1
22	MegaFood	Baby & Me, Herb Free	7.1
23	Rainbow Light	Prenatal One Multivitamin	7.0
24	Solgar	Prenatal Nutrients	7.0
25	Seeking Health	Optimal Prenatal	7.0
26	Innate Response Formulas	Baby & Me Trimester I & II	6.9
27	GNC	Women's Prenatal Program	6.9
28	Douglas Laboratories	Prenatal	6.8
29	Physiologics	Pre-Natal Formula	6.7
30	Puritan's Pride	Pre-Natal Complex	6.6
31	Pure Encapsulations	Prenatal Nutrients	6.6
32	Buried Treasure	PreNatal Plus DHA Complete	6.5
33	Biogenesis Nutraceuticals	Ultra Natal (Prenatal Vitamin)	6.4
34	Nature's Way	Completia Prenatal Multivitamin	6.4
35	Integrative Therapeutics	Prenatal Forte	6.3
36	Anabolic Laboratories	Aved-Prenatal Multi	6.3
37	Thompson (Nutraceutical)	Prenatal Formula	6.2
38	Nature's Way	Prenatal Complete Multivitamin Formula	6.1
39	Vitalah	Oxylent Prenatal Multivitamin Drink	6.1
40	Good n Natural	Pre Natal Complex	6.0
41	Similac	Prental Multivitamin + DHA/Lutein	5.9
42	Vital Nutrients	PreNatal Multi-Nutrients	5.9
43	Super Nutrition	Simply One Prenatal	5.8
44	Deva Vegan	Vitamins Prenatal Vitamins	5.7
45	Nature's Plus	Ultra Prenatal	5.7
46	Emerald Labs (Ultra Labs)	Prenatal Multi Vit-A-Min Raw Whole-Food	5.6
47	BrainStrong	Prenatal Multivitamin	5.6
48	Metagenics	Fem Prenatal	5.5
49	Easy2Swallow Vitamins	Prenatal Vitamins	5.4
50	GNC	Ultra Mega Green Prenatal	5.3
51	Nature's Life	Prenatal Multiple Vit/Min	5.3
52	GNC	Women's Prenatal Formula with DHA	5.2
53	Rainbow Light	Certified Organic Prenatal Multivitamin	5.2
54	Pure Life	Prenatal Multi-Plus	5.1
55	Thorne Research	Basic Prenatal	5.1
56	My Brest Friend	Breastfeeding Essentials	5.0
57	Kal (Nutraceutical)	Advanced Prenatal Formula	5.0
58	Nature's Plus	Source Of Life Prenatal	4.9
59	Karuna	MAXXI-Natal	4.9
60	Carlson	PreNatal Multiple with DHA	4.8
61	NOW Foods	Prenatal + DHA	4.8
62	NewMark	Prenatal Synbiotic Nutrients	4.8
63	Design For Health	Prenatal Pro	4.7
64	Priority One	Pre-Natal	4.6
65	Pure Essence Labs	One 'n' Only PreNatal Multiple	4.5
66	Kal (Nutraceutical)	Vita Mom Prenatal Formula	4.5
67	Maxi Health	Health One Prenatal	4.4
68	Nature's Plus	Prenatal Woman's Dietary Supplement	4.4
69	Twinlab	Pre-Natal Care	4.3
70	Nature's Plus	Prenatal Liquid Multi	4.2
71	Delta Labs	Multivitamin Prenatal	4.2
72	Centrum Specialist	Specialist Complete Multivitamin: Prenatal	4.1
73	Super Nutrition	PreNatal Blend 2	4.0
74	Integrative therapeutics	Clinical Nutrients Prenatal Formula	4.0
75	Enzymatic Therapy	Doctor's Choice Prenatal Multivitamin	3.9
76	One A Day (Bayer)	Women's Prenatal Multivitamin	3.9
77	Progressive Labs	Prenatal Multiple	3.8
78	GNC	Ultra Mega Green Prenatal	3.8
79	Country Life	Realfood Organics Prenatal Multivitamin	3.7
80	Walgreens	Pharmacist's Support Prenatal+DHA	3.7
81	Nature's Sunshine	Nature's Prenatal	3.6
82	Stuart	Prenatal + DHA, Multivitamins	3.5
83	Olympian Labs	Brand New Mother Premium Multivitamin	3.5
84	Kirkland Signature (Costco)	Prenatal Advanced Care Vitamins/Minerals	3.4
85	Eclectic Institute	Vita Natal	3.3
86	Lifetime Professional	Prenatal Formula	3.3
87	21st Century	Prenatal Multivitamin + DHA 120	3.2
88	Perry (Kirkman's Group)	Prenatal	3.2
89	Natures Aid	Natures Aid Prenatal Support	3.1
90	Bellybar	Bellybar Prenatal Chewable	3.1
91	Nature's Blend (Swanson)	Prenatal Formula Multivitamin	3.0
92	Nature Made	Prenatal Multi + DHA	2.9
93	Nature's Bounty	Prenatal Vitamins	2.9
94	Nutrition Now	Prenatal Gummy Vitamins	2.9
95	Vitafusion (Northwest)	PreNatal Gummy Vitamins	2.8
96	21st Century	PreNatal	2.7
97	Finest Nutrition (Walgreens)	Prenatal Vitamin	2.7
98	Sundown Naturals	Prenatal, Vitamin & Mineral Formula	2.6
99	Body First (Allstarthealth)	Prenatal Multi	2.5
100	Stuart	Prenatal Multivitamin/Multimineral	2.5
101	Walgreens	Pre-Natal Vitamin Tablets	2.5
102	Rugby	Prenavite Prenatal Formula	2.4
103	Nature Made	Multi Prenatal, Tablets	2.4
104	Olympian Labs	Aspiring Mother Premium Multivitamin	2.3
105	Prescribed Choice	Pre-Natal Multivitamin	2.3
106	Premama	Prenatal Vitamin Powdered Supplement Mix	2.2

Do Expecting Mothers Really Need Vitamin Supplements?

While pregnant and breastfeeding women are often reminded that they are "eating for two," this advice does not mean calorie intake; rather, it refers to the nutrients needed by both mother and child.

When pregnant women do not get sufficient vitamins and minerals, they put their health and the health of their unborn child at risk. Some of the consequences of nutritional deficiencies for the mother and the unborn child include the following:

• Anemia
• Problems with wound healing
• Low birth weight
• Increased risk of preeclampsia and eclampsia
• Premature birth
• High risk of heart defects, neural tube defects, and urinary track abnormalities²

The effects of maternal malnutrition have lifelong consequences for the child. When a fetus does not get the vitamins and minerals it needs, the child has an increased risk for chronic health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and heart disease.³

Given the severe consequences of poor nutrition for both mother and child, women need to ensure the supplement they take during pregnancy has all the essential nutrients they need, as well as those required by their unborn child.

Which vitamins and minerals are most critical for a healthy pregnancy?

When choosing a nutritional supplement to take during pregnancy, expectant mothers need to check to make sure it contains the following nutrients:

Folate

While the current Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for folic acid (the synthetic form of folate) is 600 mcg per day, a Hungarian study of more than 5,400 pregnant women found that those who took supplements containing 800 mcg reduced their risk of having a child born with a neural tube defect by 90 percent. Folate is also essential for healthy fetal brain and spinal cord development and reducing the risk of heart defects and the development of a cleft palate.^3,4,5

Calcium

If pregnant women do not have the recommended 1000 mg of calcium per day, the fetus will rob the mother's bones and teeth of this nutrient. Additionally, calcium deficiency during pregnancy is also associated with circulatory, muscle, and nervous system problems. The developing fetus also needs calcium for bone development.^3.5

Vitamin D

The Vitamin D Council recommends that expectant mothers have 4,000 IU of vitamin D daily in order to avoid birth complications. The fetus also needs this nutrient to develop strong bones and teeth.^3,5,6

Iron

The RDI for iron during pregnancy is 27 mg, which is double that needed by women who are not pregnant. The reason for this significant increase is that not only does the blood volume of expecting mothers double during pregnancy, but they also have to produce the blood supply for the growing fetus. ^{3, 4, 5}

Riboflavin (vitamin B2)

The RDI of 1.4 mg for riboflavin is 27 percent higher during pregnancy than at any other time during a woman's life. Pregnant women who develop a biotin deficiency are 4.7 times more likely to develop pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in the urine) and 5 percent of these women progress to fatal eclampsia.³

Biotin (vitamin B7)

Even though the RDI for biotin (30 mcg/day) is the same for future moms and women who are not pregnant, 30 percent of women develop a biotin deficiency while they are carrying their child. The developing fetus uses a significant amount of this vitamin for producing new cells and protein. Biotin is also necessary for healthy immune functioning for the mother and the newborn child.³

Vitamin A

The RDI for vitamin A during pregnancy is 2567 IU per day. This nutrient is essential for fetal cell growth, correct gene expression, and the development of healthy eyes, ears, limbs, and immune system. Vitamin A deficiency puts the expectant mother at risk for anemia.³

Omega 3 fatty acids

The recommended intake for omega 3 fatty acids during pregnancy is 1.4 grams per day. This nutrient is essential for the development of the fetus's central nervous system, as well as to prevent premature birth and low birth weight. Additionally, an Australian study found that the children whose mothers took omega 3 supplements during pregnancy scored higher on eye-hand coordination tests than children whose mothers did not take this supplement.^7,8,9

Should you take vitamin supplements while breastfeeding?

When a new mom starts breastfeeding her newborn baby, her nutritional needs increase even more compared to when she was pregnant. Even though she needs 500 more calories than women who are not lactating, her nutritional needs are greater than what she can get from her diet alone. In the event a woman does not get the nutrients she needs, her body will strip what is needed from her system to produce breast milk.

Essential nutrients during lactation

Some women continue to take their prenatal supplements while they are breastfeeding, thinking they are getting all the vitamins and minerals they need. The reality is that they are not. In fact, there are significant differences in the micronutrients needs of expectant and breastfeeding mothers. For example, breastfeeding moms need 50 percent less iron than non-lactating women.¹⁰ On the other hand, their need for iodine goes up by 90 percent to support their child's thyroid and nervous system development.^11,12

Some other examples of the other essential micronutrients needed by breast feeding mothers include:

B vitamins

If a mother develops deficiencies in these nutrients, she is putting her child at risk for impairments in brain development, neurological disorders, and anemia.¹¹

Vitamin A

A women needs 4333 IU of vitamin A when breastfeeding, which is 86 percent more than what she needs at other times of her life. Her child needs this nutrient for healthy eye development, as well as to decrease the risk of stunted growth, infection, and poor appetite.^13,14

You can find the complete list of micronutrients you need while pregnant and lactating in the table below. The "difference" column indicates how much higher or lower the vitamin needs of pregnant or lactating women are, compared to when they are not pregnant.

Table 2: RDIs for Pregnant and Lactating Women

Nutrient	Unit	Not Pregnant	Pregnant	Lactating
Vitamin A	IU	2333	2567	4333
Vitamin C	mg	75	85	120
Vitamin D	IU	600	600	600
Vitamin E	IU	22	22	28
Vitamin K	mcg	90	90	90
Thiamin	mg	1.1	1.4	1.4
Riboflavin	mg	1.1	1.4	1.6
Niacin	mg	14	18	17
Vitamin B6	mg	1.3	1.9	2
Folate	mcg	400	600	500
Vitamin B12	mcg	2.4	2.6	2.8
Panto. Acid	mg	5	6	7
Biotin	mcg	30	30	35
Calcium	mg	1000	1000	1000
Chromium	mcg	25	30	45
Copper	mcg	900	1000	1300
Iodine	mcg	150	220	290
Iron	mg	18	27	9
Magnesium	mg	320	350	310
Manganese	mg	1.8	2	2.6
Molybdenum	mcg	45	50	50
Selenium	mcg	55	60	70
Zinc	mg	8	11	12
Potassium	g	4.7	4.7	5.1

Choosing a supplement

Given the importance of sound nutrition for both pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, it is essential that you select a high quality supplement. Table1 presented above provides a good summary of the best prenatal vitamin supplements available on the market today.

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Can I Take Gnc Women's Ultra Mega While Pregnant

Source: http://www.multivitaminguide.org/best-prenatal-multivitamins.html

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