When it comes to nourishing your growing baby, one of the most important things you can do is to supplement your diet with essential vitamins. We all know prenatals can help your hair and nails grow, but what’s important is that they provide your little one with the right ingredients to come out strong! But what might your vitamins be lacking that you should add separately?

This topic became of interest to me when I discovered that almost no prenatals contain magnesium! Magnesium is said to reduce the risk of fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia, both of which can cause complications and preterm birth. It also plays an important role in muscle and nerve function and SLEEP, which becomes very precious to a mom by the time baby is born!

There are several types of magnesium you can take daily. The recommended daily allowance of magnesium for pregnant women is 350-400mg. Don’t worry because magnesium toxicity does not occur until around 5000mg.

Another imperative nutrient lots of women miss during pregnancy is choline. Choline helps with brain function of both mother and baby, and the recommended dose varies depending on your stage of pregnancy. My prenatal vitamins contain 55mg choline, which is A TENTH of the recommended dose for this phase of my pregnancy! Yikes.

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Of course both magnesium and choline can both be supplied through a healthy diet. If a food is in rich in either nutrient, it is likely a “superfood” and a great choice for you and your little one overall. Black beans and eggs are two of my favorites, and my 10 month old loves both, so it’s a win win. Depending on your resources and what you eat at home, your diet may come close to providing the vitamins you need. However, the reality is that most people are busy, crave mozzarella sticks, are on the go, and neglect at least one dietary need during pregnancy, so the easiest thing to do is supplement!

The third nutrient that almost no prenatals contain is Omega-3. It comes from fish, and it is great for your skin, which may be giving you flare ups even by the time you find out you’re expecting. It also supports your heart health, joints, and cognitive function.

Read the back of your prenatal vitamins to verify that they contain the recommended dose of each nutrient. You may be surprised what you find.

If you are unsure about what is beneficial or necessary, your OBGYN wants to know everything you’re taking and probably will be happy to fill you in on the reasons you should or should not consider additional supplementation.