Pregnancy is the most wonderful time in any woman’s life. You want the very best for your coming angel. Prenatal vitamins ensure that you get the maximum nutrients needed to support both you and your baby.
Doctors from around the world recommend including DHA in the list of nutrients to look for in your perfect prenatal vitamin. Here we look at the importance of DHA along with the 10 must know prenatal vitamins with DHA.
What is DHA?
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a type of omega-3 fatty acid. It is found most commonly in fish. DHA is an important factor in many health functions of an adult human. Pregnant women especially depend on this to promote healthy fetal development.
According to studies most women fail to have the requisite amount of fish per week during pregnancy. That is why it is important for you to choose a brand of prenatal vitamins that contain DHA. This will help make up for the loss that you may potentially incur.
What effect does DHA have on fetal development?
When we think of fish oil, we immediately think about the heart benefits. However, the benefits of fish oil towards fetal development are many. These include:
- proper brain development
- promoting better attention and learning habits later in life
- healthy eyes
- nervous system development
- proper immune function
Why do women need DHA supplements in there prenatal vitamins?
There are two main challenges for women in getting adequate DHA from eating fish are:
- Many do not have access or cannot afford enough fresh and healthy seafood
- Misconception of fish harming your growing fetus
Though there are certain types of seafood with high mercury content that can harm your baby, most are safe. There are healthier choices in seafood that are both high in DHA and low in mercury. You can choose from salmon, freshwater bass, trout or anchovies.
For women with dietary restrictions and those who are vegetarians and vegans, presence of DHA in your prenatal vitamins is the best bet.
What are the 10 must know prenatal vitamins with DHA?
There are hundreds of prenatal vitamin brands to choose from. Many of the brands incorporate DHA in the ingredients used to make the pills. The choice for the perfect prenatal vitamin with DHA can be a tough one.
That is why we are giving you a list of the top 10 must know prenatal vitamins with DHA.
-
Country Life Maxi Pre-Natal Multivitamins
This is an organic whole food supplement. It is specially formulated to suit vegetarian and vegan women. It is equipped to support the special nutritional needs of women during and after pregnancy. It contains a vegetarian algae form of DHA as well as 1,000 mcg of folic acid Contains 18 mg of iron. Other nutrients included in the pills are 800 mg of calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D.
Each bottle contains 180 pills that are easy to swallow. The pills are also easily digested and gentle on your stomach.
Recommended Daily Intake: 6 capsules per day; 2 capsules, 3 times daily with food
Nutrition Highlights:
| Vitamin A – 5,000 IU Vitamin B complex Vitamin C – 300 mg Vitamin D – 200 IUFolic acid – 1,000 mgIron – 18 mg |
Vitamin E – 200 IU Vitamin K – 25 mcg Calcium – 800 mg Magnesium – 350 mgDHA complex – 100 mg |
Potassium – 99 mg Carotenoids Ginger Red Raspberry Chromax chromium picolinate |
-
Rainbow Light Prenatal One
This is food based product rich with co-nutrients that are essential for expectant and nursing moms. Rainbow Light Prenatal One Multivitamin provides vitamins and minerals that promote your baby’s healthy development.
It is formulated with in a Vegan formula: appropriate for vegetarians and vegans. Prenatal One contains all the essential nutrients needed for mom and baby in potencies that deliver optimal nourishment.
Recommended Daily Intake: Take 1 tablet per day with or between meals
Nutritional Highlights:
| Vitamin A (as Palmitate, Beta-carotene) – 4000 IU
Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid) – 100 mg Vitamin D (as D2 Ergocalciferol) – 400 IU Vitamin E – 30 IU Iron – 30 mg Iodine (From Kelp) – 150 mcg Magnesium – 100 mg |
Vitamin K – 65 mcg
Vitamin B1 – 10 mg Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – 10 mg Niacin – 20 mg Zinc – 15 mg Selenium – 100 mcg Copper |
Vitamin B6 – 15 mg
Vitamin B12 – 25 mg Folic Acid – 800 mcg Biotin – 300 mcg Calcium – 200 mg Manganese Potassium |
3. Nordic Naturals – Prenatal DHA
This is a brand of prenatal DHA that helps support brain development in your baby during pregnancy and lactation. It is the official DHA of the American Pregnancy Association. With this brand of prenatal DHA you can be at peace knowing that both you and your baby is taken care of.
Nordic Naturals formulas are produced in true triglyceride form to ensure optimal absorption and results. It is safe for you and safe for your baby. With 480 mg DHA per serving, Prenatal DHA generously fulfills the international expert-recommended daily intake for DHA, providing safe and effective omega-3 nutrition to moms and babies alike.
The best thing is that there is no unpleasant aftertaste. It is also easy for you to swallow. There is no gluten, milk derivatives, or artificial flavors and coloring.
They are made smaller and tasteless so even a queasy pregnant person can handle them.
Recommended Daily Intake: 2 soft gels with or in between food
Nutritional Highlights:
Vitamin D3 – 400 IU
Total Omega-3s – 830 mg
-
New Chapter Wholemega for Moms
This prenatal dietary supplement provides prenatal DHA and other Omega-3s that are needed by mom and baby during pregnancy and lactation. These are tiny and easy to swallow capsules. They are easy on your stomach and do not have the fishy aftertaste that most fish oil capsules have. One word of warning though, you may sometimes get salmon flavored burps!
These capsules are fresh-pressed without isolating of single Omegas, no fractionation, no heavy or high heat processing. It is composed of 100% Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil with Prenatal DHA & EPA, Vitamin D3 and the antioxidant Astaxanthin.
Recommended Daily Intake: Two softgels two times daily. For best results, take two softgels immediately before your two largest meals.
Nutritional Highlights:
| Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil – 2000 mg
Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids – 520 mg Total Omega-6 Fatty Acids – 60 mg |
Total Omega-5 & 7 Fatty Acids – 95 mg
Total Omega-9 Fatty Acids – 300 mg Astaxanthin – 5 mcg Vitamin D3 – 100 IU Total Fat – 2000 mg |
-
Zahler Prenatal Plus DHA 300
These are premium prenatal multivitamins with DHA. They help in supporting brain development in your baby. In a way it is the complete prenatal multivitamin that you need. It contains 25 vitamins and nutrients plus 300mg of DHA.
Zahler’s Prenatal Plus DHA 300 is very easy to swallow. It comes in a soft gel capsule that is tamper evident. There is no bad smell or fishy aftertaste. The capsules are formulated with the optimum composition of nutrients needed by your body before, during, and after pregnancy.
DHA is critical for your coming baby’s eye and brain development. It can also be very crucial for your mood post delivery.
Recommended Daily Intake: Take one in the morning as you wake up, and one right before bed
Nutritional Highlights:
| Docosahexaenoim Acid – 300mg
Vitamin A – 5000IU Vitamin C – 100mg Vitamin D – 2000IU Vitamin E – 60IU Iron – 27mg Iodine – 300mcg Magnesium – 20mg Zinc – 11mg |
Vitamin K – 80mcg
Thiamin – 15mg Riboflavin – 15mg Niacin – 30mg Vitamin B6 – 25mg Copper – 1mg Selenium – 35mcg Manganese – 2mg |
Folate – 1000mcg
Vitamin B12 – 100mcg Biotin – 300mcg Pantothenic Acid – 15mg Calcium – 34mg Chromium – 400mcg Molybdenum – 37.5mcg Lutein Zeaxanthin Complex – .9mg Choline – 25mg |
Fish Gelatin, Glycerin, Yellow Beeswax, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Purified Water, Soy Lecitin, Organic Coconut Oil, Annatto, Caramel Color
-
DEVA Vegan Omega-3 DHA Soft gels
DEVA Vegan Omega-3 DHA is a quality product derived from algae and packaged in non-animal softgels made from carrageenan and starch. This makes a great non-animal alternative to DHA rich fish oils and can be confidently used by vegetarians and vegans alike.
The Omega-3 DHA oil used in Vegan DHA Softgels comes from microalgae which has been grown on land (outside of the ocean) using drinkable water. The softgels are made from non-animal materials as well.
Recommended Daily Intake: Take one (1) vegan softgel a day with food or as directed by a health care professional.
Nutritional Highlights:
DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) – 200 mg
Other Ingredients: All from non-animal sources
High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Carragenaan, Starch, Vegetable Glycerin, Purified Water, Natural Vitamin E, Lemon Oil, Silicon Dioxide, Sorbitol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sunflower Lecithin, Rosemary Extract.
-
Nature Made Prenatal Multi Plus DHA
These softgel capsules combine both a multivitamin and DHA in one easy-to-swallow pill. For those who don’t like taking too many pills this is a true blessing! You only need to take one per day.
But remember that these are rather on the larger side So if you have trouble swallowing large pills this may not be the best choice for you. They meet the iron and folic acid requirements for both you and your baby.
On the downside though these pills do have a faint fishy smell. Those of you who are easily nauseous would do well to remember this. It has been seen to set off nausea in some pregnant moms-to-be.
Recommended Daily Intake: 1 Softgel capsule per day
Nutritional Highlights:
| Calories – 10
Total Fat – .5 g Total Carbohydrate – less than 1g Vitamin A – 4000 IU Vitamin C – 100 mg Iodine – 150 mcg |
Vitamin D – 400 IU
Vitamin E – 11 IU Thiamin – 1.5 mg Riboflavin – 1.7 mg Iron – 27 mg Zinc – 25 mg |
Niacin – 18mg
Vitamin B6 – 2.6 mg Folic Acid – 800 mcg Vitamin B12 – 4mcg Calcium – 150 mg Omega3 Fatty Acids – 228 mg |
-
One A Day Women’s Prenatal Vitamins
This brand is trusted by women and doctors from all over the world. It is known to be a complete prenatal vitamin with all the essential nutrients like folic acid, iron, and DHA.
During pregnancy your highest priority is to ensure that you and your baby get all the nutrients need for healthy development. One A Day Women’s Prenatal vitamins is rich in DHA that helps in your baby’s brain and eye development.
Post pregnancy your baby continues to get the benefits of DHA through your breast milk. This is why it is immensely important that your prenatal vitamin contains DHA.
Recommended Daily Intake: One tablet and one liquid gel daily, with food.
Nutritional Highlights:
| Folic Acid – 800 mcg
DHA – 200 mg Calcium – 300 mg |
Vitamin D – 400 IU
Iron – 28 mg Iodine – 150 mcg |
9. Vitafusion Prenatal Gummies
For those of you looking for a great tasting option of prenatal vitamins, this is perfect. The Vitafusion Prenatal Gummies are rich in Vitamin C. They contain as much Vitamin C as that found in 10 tangerines.
Each serving of Vitafusion Prenatal includes essential vitamins and minerals. These include folic acid and Omega-3 DHA. These are delicious and contain no iron making them easy on your tummy. But it means that you will need to take a separate iron supplement along with these.
It provides as much Folic Acid as 3 cups of cooked spinach and an excellent source of Omega-3 DHA . It contains fish, so not an ideal choice for those of you who are vegetarian or vegan.
Recommended Daily Intake: Take 2 gummy vitamins per day. Chew thoroughly before swallowing.
Nutritional Highlights:
| Calories – 20
Total Carbohydrate – 4g Vitamin A – 4000 IU Vitamin C – 30 mg Vitamin D – 400 IU |
Vitamin E – 15 IU
Niacin – 20 mg Vitamin B6 – 2.5 mg Folic Acid – 800 mcg |
Vitamin B12 – 8 mcg
Zinc – 3.8 mg Choline – 10 mg Omega-3 Fatty Acids – 65 mgs |
10. SmartyPants Prenatal Complete Gummy Vitamins
Expecting moms have a prenatal vitamin that combines the premium ingredients and delicious taste in SmartyPants Prenatal Complete Gummy Vitamins.
These gummy vitamins contain 15 essential nutrients, including vitamin K2 (MK7) and vitamin D as D3, as well as omega 3 EPA and DHA fish oil for healthy brain development of your baby. The best thing is that these taste absolutely fantastic.
Those of you who do not want to take bitter chalky and oversized prenatal vitamins pills can surely look at these. There is no iron in these, however. So it is advisable to consult your doctor and take a separate iron supplement.
Recommended Daily Intake: Pregnant and lactating women can take up to 6 gummies per day.
Nutritional Highlights:
| Calories – 50
Total Carbohydrate – 11 g Vitamin A – 3000 IU Vitamin C – 60 mg Vitamin D – 1000 IU Biotin USP – 30 mcg Pantothenic Acid – 10 mg |
Vitamin E – 30 IU
Vitamin K – 16 mcg Thiamin – .08 mg Riboflavin USP – .17 mg Niacin – 20 mg Zinc – 6.5 mg Sodium – 25 mg |
Vitamin B6 – 2.5 mg
Folate – 800 mcg Vitamin B12 – 10 mcg Iodine – 150 mcg Fish Oil – 455 mg Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids – 132 mg Choline – 12 mg |
Remember, these prenatal vitamins are based on the fact that you have no other specific physical or dietary issues. In case there are any medical complications or allergies to any of the ingredients it is best that you consult your doctor.
Your doctor is the best person to help you choose the perfect prenatal vitamin with DHA suitable for your specific needs.
