Prenatal vitamins? Beef Liver? Iron Supplementation? The market is saturated with so many products for expecting mamas making it overwhelming to choose nutritional supplementation that will nourish you and baby in the best way possible.

As a third time, kind of crunchy mama I wanted a protocol that would meet my body’s needs and the needs of my growing baby. There are so many conflicting opinions out there, but here’s what I have found helpful so far:

• Paleo Valley Organ Complex : Great source of Folate, Vitamin A, and Heme-Iron. This is the non-negotiable for me. Beef Liver is one of the most concentrated sources of folate available in its natural form.
• Paleo Valley Wild Caught Fish Roe : Omega 3 Fatty Acids. DHA aids in brain development.
• Wild Harvest Dandelion Root : Nourishes the liver and balances sodium and potassium. Helps so much with swelling in pregnancy. I’ve taken this supplement in all of my pregnancies and notice a huge difference on the days I skip. Take half as many capsules as months you are pregnant. Ex. If you are 6 months pregnant, take 3 capsules.
• Needed Pre/Probiotic : Optimal quantities and forms for your microbiome: 30 billion CFU per dose. Enhance growth of healthy bacteria and support vaginal balance and iron absorption.
• Mother’s Tea/NORDA Tea: 1 Quart (32oz) a day of caffeine-free herbal tea. Includes: Nettles, Oatstraw, Red Raspberry Leaf, Dandelion Root, and Alfalfa. There are plenty of pre-blends available to purchase online, but those can get expensive. I spent about $100 purchasing each herb in bulk which should last me well beyond pregnancy! Thinking I’ll make another blog post about this tea and it’s benefits soon!
• LMNT Unflavored with Lime Juice: Electrolytes are the essential minerals our bodies need such as sodium, potassium and magnesium. These minerals play a critical role in our bodies functions and during pregnancy, help to support regular blood pressure, nervous system and muscle function.
• Earthley Good Night Magnesium Lotion : Okay honestly this product feels like a nightly luxury. I LOVE this lotion. Supplementing with magnesium shows many benefits during pregnancy including a reduced risk of preeclampsia, stillbirth, low birth weight, and fetal growth restriction. Magnesium supplementation also aids in sleep, supports bone health, helps with muscle cramps, and has mood-boosting properties. The great thing about a lotion is that magnesium is better absorbed through the skin than orally.
• Herbs + Iron Tincture: In past pregnancies I have really struggled with iron absorption. This is a new supplement for me, but I’m hoping this paired with the Organ Complex will do the trick! Right now I’m taking 1tsp morning and evening.

Things I will add after 28 weeks:

• Alfalfa Tablets: 3g per day. Increases Vitamin K levels for Mama and Baby, decreases risk of jaundice, supposedly aids in birth closer to your due date. (My first baby was two weeks early and my second was born at 39 + 6… so maybe?)
• Primadophilus Probiotic: Reduces risk of a positive GBS swab and boosts immune system. Currently taking 1 capsule in the morning and 1 in the evening. I will preventatively increase to 4 capsules a day at 36 weeks to mitigate the risk of GBS infection.

But… why don’t you just take a prenatal?! Short answer: I like to know where each component of my nutritional supplementation is coming from. I have felt great on this protocol and am confident it’s contributing to a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby! However, if you’re looking for a one-size prenatal I have heard great things about Needed’s Essential Prenatal!

*Side note: Most shelf prenatals contain folic acid. If you know or suspect you may have the MTHFR gene mutation (More than 50% of women do), your body cannot process folic acid (the synthetic form of folate in most prenatal vitamins on the market). This can result in an increased risk of miscarriage. I always choose naturally occurring folate OR a supplement with methylated folate rather than folic acid.