Mother Dose Prenatal Multivitamin

A prenatal is the easiest way to cover folate, iodine and iron in one go. These are the questions our naturopaths ask in store before recommending one.

A good fit if

• You're trying to conceive, pregnant or breastfeeding and want folate, iodine and iron in one tablet
• You'd rather not juggle three or four separate bottles
• You're vegetarian or vegan, or eat little seafood, which makes iodine and B12 easiest to miss
• You want an Australian-formulated product, dosed to Australian limits with Australian label warnings

Check with us first if

• You have an existing thyroid condition, which needs medical advice before you take a prenatal with iodine
• You already take a separate iron, iodine or vitamin A supplement, which can push you over the legal limit
• You have a history of neural tube defects or a previously affected pregnancy, diabetes, a BMI over 30 or poor absorption of nutrients, or you take epilepsy medicine, because your doctor may prescribe 5 mg of folic acid, ten times what a prenatal supplies
• You've been told you're anaemic, because a prenatal's 24 mg iron cap isn't designed to treat that
• You take any prescription medicine

• Folic acid. Best known for: The classic form for neural tube defects, and the only one that meets the exact wording of the TGA claim. Absorption: Your body has to convert it to the active form before it can use it. Typical use: Standard in most Australian prenatals.
• Methylfolate (levomefolate). Best known for: Folate that's already active, marketed around MTHFR gene variants. Absorption: In trials, it raised blood folate more than folic acid at an equivalent dose. Typical use: On its own, it doesn't meet the wording of the TGA's neural tube defect claim.
• Ferrous sulfate. Best known for: The standard, most-studied iron salt. Absorption: Well absorbed, but roughly triples stomach and gut side effects in pregnancy. Typical use: Basic prenatals.
• Iron bisglycinate (chelated iron). Best known for: What "gentle iron" usually means on an Australian label. Absorption: The evidence points to fewer stomach side effects, though our sources don't put a size on it. Typical use: Prenatals for people who can't tolerate standard iron salts.
• Retinol (preformed vitamin A). Best known for: Carries the mandatory pregnancy birth-defect warning above 33 micrograms RE per dose. Absorption: This is about regulation, not absorption. Typical use: Check for it, and don't take it as an add-on without medical advice.
• Betacarotene. Best known for: The lower-risk way a prenatal provides vitamin A. Absorption: Your body converts it to retinol at a rate it regulates itself. Typical use: What most modern Australian prenatals use instead of retinol.

Reference values. The NHMRC's pregnancy recommendations, mostly for ages 14 to 50: folate 600 µg DFE a day, iodine 220 µg, vitamin D 5 µg (adequate intake), vitamin A 800 µg RE (ages 19 to 50), vitamin B12 2.6 µg, zinc 11 mg, calcium 1000 mg and choline 440 mg (adequate intake). We haven't included a recommended iron intake for pregnancy here, so every iron figure on this page is the legal supplement cap, not the dietary target.

Typical supplemental range. An Australian listed prenatal is built around these legal limits: folic acid (combined with any folinic acid or levomefolic acid) 500 µg; iron 24 mg elemental; iodine under 300 µg; vitamin D 25 µg (1000 IU); vitamin A 3000 µg RE; vitamin B6 100 mg, with a warning above 10 mg; zinc 50 mg, with a warning above 25 mg; and selenium 150 µg.

Upper level. The NHMRC upper limits in pregnancy, ages 19 to 50: folic acid 1000 µg from supplements and fortified food, iodine 1100 µg, vitamin A 3000 µg RE, vitamin D 80 µg, vitamin B6 50 mg, zinc 40 mg, selenium 400 µg and calcium 2500 mg.

Worth knowing. Doubling up is the real risk here. A prenatal plus a separate iodine, kelp or vitamin A product can push you over these limits, even when each product looks fine on its own. What you need depends on your age, diet and health, so talk to one of our naturopaths.

If any of these sound like you, talk to one of our naturopaths or your doctor before you start.

• Existing thyroid conditions. Get medical advice before taking a prenatal that contains iodine.
• Vitamin A as retinol above 33 micrograms RE per dose. This carries a mandatory warning about birth defects in pregnancy.
• If you already take a separate iron, iodine or vitamin A supplement. You risk going over the legal cap.
• Diagnosed iron deficiency. A listed prenatal's 24 mg cap isn't designed to treat it.
• A history of neural tube defect, diabetes, a BMI over 30, malabsorption or epilepsy medicine. You may need a doctor-prescribed 5 mg folic acid dose, ten times what a prenatal supplies.
• Vitamin B6 above 10 mg per dose. This carries a mandatory warning about tingling, burning or numbness.
• If you take prescription medicines, check with your doctor, pharmacist or our naturopaths before you start.