Resources
Let's talk iron
This is a unique iron free formula. Iron requirements change as your pregnancy progresses, and some women simply do not require additional supplementation at all.
Doses and forms of iron will be an individual need, once size does not fit all.
For those who need to supplement due to iron deficiency or iron deficiency anaemia, it is best to monitor your ferritin levels and take a separate iron supplement that will correct it properly.
It's recommended to take iron at a different time to your prenatal. Along with the gastro upsets iron can cause like constipation and nausea, it can also block the absorption of key nutrients like B vitamins and zinc.
Excessive iron can also lead to other complications, so best to speak with a healthcare professional about your specific requirement if neccessary.
A word on folic acid
A staggering 1 in 3 of us has a malfunctioning methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, which is responsible for the conversion of synthetic folic acid into the active form of folate we can all use.
Sadly many prenatals still use folic acid, causing many of us and our babies to miss out on one of the biggest players in a successful pregnancy and your little one's healthy development - not cool!
We use active folate which is the closest version of folate to what’s naturally found in food. We can metabolise it fast because it is so familiar to our bodies therefore increasing our folate levels pronto. No brainer, right!
Ingredients - Meet our hero line up:
¬ B Group Vitamins aid in fetal brain development and can reduce the risk of preeclampsia and birth defects. This group of vitamins also metabolise food into energy, we will take any extra boost we can in that first trimester – am I right? These clever guys can even help to ease nausea.
¬ Choline is important in supporting optimal fetal brain and neural tube development. It is also useful to take whilst breastfeeding to support bub’s rapid brain development. We are calling it - choline is the new 'it' pregnancy nutrient on the block and should be an essential component of every pregnancy intake.
Some studies have shown that choline may influence brain health and the baby's lifelong memory and learning capacity. Check out the link to our favourite journal articles here. There is plenty of emerging data to show its huge variety of benefits to a growing bub and sadly it is not yet included in many mainstream prenatals out there.
¬ Vit D3 – adequate levels of vitamin D are vital for fertility and contraception. Babies in bellies are notorious for soaking up all of your supplies, so it continues to be important during pregnancy and breastfeeding for formation of babies bones and teeth. As for you Mumma? Adequate levels support your metal wellbeing. Yes please!
¬ Iodine, in conjunction with selenium (tick, tick!) has been proven to support thyroid hormone production. Thyroid hormones are responsible for regulating metabolism and has an impact on every dang cell and physiological function of the body. Sounds important! Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of preventable intellectual impairment worldwide.
¬ Magnesium is vital for the functioning of the body and is eaten up very quickly in pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. It aids in managing blood pressure, DNA synthesis and can help to ward off any unwanted pregnancy pains like ligament pain and the dreaded muscle cramps!
¬ Active folate (Levomefolic acid on the label) is the biologically active form of folate naturally found in blood circulation and accounts for 98% of folate in blood plasma. It does not require our bodies to rely on a complicated process of enzymatic conversion to use.
¬ Selenium – besides being a fantastic antioxidant, selenium aids in normal neural developement of our babies and can help prevent the incidences of preelampsia and intra uterine growth restriction.
¬ Zinc – Zinc is a powerhouse in the fertility world, it supports ovulation and is key in hormone production and balance. Zinc is involved in the growth and repair of tissues supporting our immune systems. Many women struggle to reach minimum zinc requirements through diet alone, especially in the second and third trimesters.
Resources
We’re interested in the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the (evidence based) truth. Here are some links to our favourite recent, peer reviewed journal articles helping us make our decision in what to include (and what to leave out).
Discussing MTHFR and the importance of active folate.
Choline and DHA in Maternal and Infant Nutrition: Synergistic Implications in Brain and Eye Health - PMC (nih.gov)Choline: Exploring the Growing Science on Its Benefits for Moms and Babies - PMC (nih.gov)
In a nutshell - choline is an important player in your baby's cognition, neurodevelopment, and placental functioning.
Iron - one size does not fit all