Prenatal Vitamins

Written By Dr. Stephanie Liebrecht

Written by Dr. Stephanie Liebrecht | Feb 14, 2019

Not all prenatal vitamins are made the same. The two major things we want to consider when choosing the right prenatal are ingredients and dosage.

Ingredients

Good quality prenatals contain good quality ingredients. First, start by reading the label of ingredients. Most generic prenatal supplements contain the inactive form of vitamins. Why does this matter? A large number of people have difficulty turning these inactive vitamins into their active, working form in the body. It’s estimated that up to 40% of people are not able to fully activate certain vitamins due to their genetics!
Purchase a prenatal vitamin with active ingredients to ensure you are getting the ingredients you need.

Things to look for - the active form is in brackets:
Folate (5-methyltetrahydrofolate or 5-MTHF)
Vitamin B5 (calcium d?pantothenate)
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal-5-phosphate)
Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin)

Dosage

The second most important thing when choosing a prenatal is getting the proper amount of each ingredient. Dosing (aside from active forms) can be the difference between getting benefit from the supplement or not. We need a certain amount of each vitamin to have an impact on the body. Many popular drug store prenatals may have the correct dose of Folate (1000mcg or 1mg), but not nearly enough of the other vitamins (and don't contain the active form). Professional brands used by Naturopathic Doctors contain the correct amount of vitamins and it’s active form!

The prenatal supplement I like to use in my practice is called Prenatal SAP by NFH (Nutritional Fundamentals for Health). This product includes the active ingredients and the right dosage, making it one of the preferred prenatal supplements among Naturopathic Doctors.

 

Dr. Stephanie Liebrecht

Naturopathic Doctor

 
Dr. Stephanie Liebrecht

Dr. Stephanie Liebrecht, BSc, ND is a licensed, board-certified Naturopathic Doctor. She received her Doctorate of Naturopathy from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, to which she was medically trained in standards of practice, clinical diagnosis, physical examination, and naturopathic modalities. Her interest in the functioning of the human body drove her to first receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Anatomy & Cell Biology, and to study other sciences such as physiology, biochemistry, etc. while at the University of Saskatchewan.
Dr. Liebrecht, ND has a general family practice treating a variety of health concerns including women’s health, thyroid disorders, digestive concerns, mood support, sleep disturbances, and fatigue. She is passionate about hormones, and her professional interests include polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, irregular menstrual cycles, fertility, menopause, hypothyroid, and fatigue. She aims to establish health in patients by providing the knowledge and tools to empower people, and take control of their health.

To stay up to date with current medical research and naturopathic treatments, Dr. Liebrecht, ND attends continuing education events and conferences throughout the year. She is a member of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND), and the Saskatchewan Association of Naturopathic Practitioners (SANP). Dr. Liebrecht, ND serves as Vice President of the SANP.

https://www.sasknaturopath.com
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