Prenatal Care: Top Tips and Products

The months that lead up to the arrival of a new baby can bring all sorts of questions. But what do you really need to stay well during pregnancy and into the fourth trimester? Our guide rounds up the prenatal vitamins, balms, supplements, and other essentials you’ll want to have on hand as well as a few prenatal diet tips!

Healthy Prenatal Diet Tips

With so many new mamas as part smof our community, we’re always researching what composes a healthy prenatal diet.

• Curtail your caffeine intake: If you’re a cup-of-day kind of coffee drinker, it can be tough to reduce your consumption. The good news is, you don’t have to give it up entirely. Try to limit caffeine to no more than 200 milligrams a day—that’s the amount in around eight ounces of brewed coffee or tea [1].
• Pack in protein: Dietician Stephanie Greunke recommends starting your day with protein, which may help reduce nausea. Her favorite ideas are smoothies with collagen peptides, grass-fed yogurt, or scrambled eggs [2].
• Nutrient know-how: This post offers a breakdown of the best foods to eat during each trimester, and we’re betting you already enjoy a lot of them, such as lentils, walnuts, spinach, avocado, salmon, and olive oil.

Best Prenatal Vitamins & Supplements

There are many different types of prenatal vitamins and supplements—here’s a look at some of our member favorites including prenatal collagen.

Prenatal Iron Supplement

Thrive Market’s prenatal pill is formulated with iron and served up in a once-daily tablet that offers 18 essential vitamins and minerals. [3].

Prenatal Gummy Multivitamins Dietary Supplement

SmartyPants has you covered in the gummies department, making it easier than ever to get your daily dose of nutrients. Organics Prenatal Complete Gummy Vitamins deliver vitamins D3, B12, folate, and prebiotics to support your health [4].

Prenatal Probiotic Supplements

Garden of Life’s Dr. Formulated Once Daily Prenatal Probiotic has everything you need to support gut health during pregnancy. The formula is gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian [5].

New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Multivitamin

This jar has 192 vegetarian capsules that include folate, vitamin D3, vitamin K, iron, and more. The addition of ginger may help reduce nausea, too.

Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA Pills

Here’s a prenatal supplement developed with DHA—a source of omega-3s to benefit both you and your growing baby. If you’re not a fan of taking pills, you’ll appreciate the smaller softgel size [6].

The Most Common Nutrients in Prenatal Supplements

In prenatal supplements, you would typically find ingredients such as folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D, and other essential vitamins and minerals crucial for the proper development of the baby and the health of the mother during pregnancy [7].

Folic Acid

Folic acid is a common component in prenatal supplements due to its importance in preventing neural tube defects in the developing fetus. Neural tube defects are serious birth defects that affect the brain and spinal cord [8].

Folic acid, a synthetic form of folate (a B-vitamin), plays a vital role in the early development of the neural tube, which forms the baby’s brain and spinal cord [9]. 

During the early stages of pregnancy, proper levels of folic acid are essential [10]. As a result, healthcare providers often recommend that women who are planning to become pregnant or who are already pregnant take prenatal supplements containing folic acid to ensure they get an adequate amount. 

The recommended daily intake of folic acid for pregnant women is usually higher than that for non-pregnant women to support the increased demands of the developing baby.

Iron

Iron is another essential mineral commonly found in prenatal supplements, and it plays a crucial role in supporting the health of both the pregnant woman and the developing fetus [11].

Iron is a key component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. During pregnancy, a woman’s blood volume increases to support the growing baby, and iron is necessary for the production of additional red blood cells [12]. 

Iron is crucial for the proper development of the fetus, as it is needed for the formation of the baby’s blood and tissues. 

As with any supplement, consulting with a healthcare professional is recommended to determine the appropriate dosage and ensure it aligns with individual health needs.

How to Cure Morning Sickness During Pregnancy

How to cure morning sickness is a question on the minds of many pregnant women. If you’re lucky enough to experience pregnancy without feeling nauseous, permission to skip ahead to the next section! For the rest of you, here are some home cures for morning sickness.

• Three meals a day is pretty standard, but keep in mind is that low blood sugar may trigger nausea, which can occur if you wait too long between meals. Try eating every two to three hours, and never leave the house without snacks!
• If the idea of eating a regular meal makes you feel nauseous, drink your nutrients—bone broth is your friend. (See below for an easy Instant Pot recipe.)
• Stick to plain foods—white rice, toast, or baked potatoes. It’s not very exciting, but it may help your stomach from feeling upset.
• Keep plain crackers by your bed, and slowly eat a few before getting up.
• Go for ginger. Whether it’s a hot tea, popsicle, or hard candy, ginger is one of the ingredients believed to help diminish nausea.

Prenatal Supplements for Morning Sickness

If nausea has become part of your daily routine during pregnancy, make friends with ginger, which is commonly recommended as a natural remedy.

Pink Stock Morning Mist Sickness Spray

For quick relief, add a few sprays of magnesium mist to the soles of feet, wrists, or other exposed areas, then massage it in. This convenient treatment makes it easy to support yourself at work or on the go.

Thrive Market Organic Ginger Tea

Brew a cup of organic ginger tea anytime you need a moment of zen. This bag is made from a spicy blend of ginger, lemongrass, peppermint, licorice, and black pepper.

Pink Stork Organic Ginger Raspberry Morning Sickness Candy

If you’re struggling to feel like yourself, enjoy a non-GMO candy formulated with organic ginger, natural raspberry flavor, and 15mg of B6 to help keep nausea at bay.

Pregnancy Skin Care With Thrive Market

Where’s the prenatal collagen when you need it? It’s skin care time.

We love supporting mamas-to-be and recently launched a lovely collection of balms and sprays to support you during pregnancy and beyond. Healthy prenatal diets and even a few pills and supplements can make a difference, but try these alternatives!

Thrive Market Belly Balm

Botanicals such as shea butter, apricot oil, and rosehips are the base of this soothing balm to help calm itchy skin and minimize the appearance of stretch marks.

“Makes my belly feel hydrated, warm and cozy!”
—Gabriela, Oklahoma

Thrive Market Organic Diaper Balm

If your little one has an uncomfortable rash, rub in our diaper balm. It’s made from organic botanicals that include Oregon grape root, calendula flower, and extra virgin olive oil to nourish irritated skin.

“This is very effective, and a little goes a long way.”
—Rose, Arizona

Thrive Market Organic Perennial Spray

This spray combines witch hazel, yarrow, uva ursi, and essential oils to help bring cooling relief to sore perineal muscles after labor. The clean formula is free from synthetic ingredients, parabens, and artificial fragrances.

“I’ve tried other sprays and sitz baths, but this one seems to be the most soothing. Love that it’s organic!”
—Jessica, Georgia

Thrive Market Organic Nipple Balm

Sore and cracked nipples can put a damper on bonding during feedings. Soothe delicate skin with our paraben-free formula, infused with shea butter, marshmallow root, and calendula flower—no need to wash it off before feedings!

“This is a great gift for new moms!”
—Carolyn, California