5 Essential Supplements To Replace Your Prenatal

There was one thing I knew to do once that Big FAT positive showed up on a dollar-store brand pregnancy test: BE HEALTHY. Granted, with my first I had no idea what that meant, whereas, with my second, I barely had enough income to cover the expensive, whole, organic food I knew was best for me, especially my prenatal vitamin. Second time around, I wouldn't settle for just any old prenatal... mine was 60 bucks for 90 capsules, taking 3 capsules daily. I figured most people thought I was insane. Come to find out... I was.


The common marketing used with prenatal vitamins is that they "fill in the weak spots" of what you're not getting in your daily nutrition. However, not only are the nutrients in multivitamins harder for your body to utilize and absorb, but not all of the minerals and vitamins in there work together. I know, I know... I've uttered the ultimate blasphemy. "Are you telling me I shouldn't take a prenatal vitamin?" *GASP!*

Absolutely not. If you want to take a horse pill or a fistful of vegetarian capsules, I am not going to stop you. If I'm being honest, it's not going to hurt you or baby (unless you get a prenatal of poor quality). In fact, there is still benefit to taking a prenatal vitamin, though William's Obstetrics calls these benefits "meager".

"The practice of supplying vitamin supplements prenatally is a deeply ingrained habit of many obstetricians, even though scientific evidence to show that the usual vitamin supplements are of benefit to either the mother or her fetus is quite meager."

You're still going to get trace amounts of the good stuff, but not really enough to make a difference. So hows about we focus on which vitamins you should be taking, but let's also look at ways to take your vitamins in a plethora of creative ways.

1. Iron
I think everyone knows this one. How many times over is your blood supply supposed to increase during pregnancy? Like a million? So keeping the health and production of your RBCs (Red Blood Cells) at top notch quality is pretty important. Pregnancy-induced anemia can be pretty common, but a severe version of this condition can cause growth and development to slow down and create unnecessary risk for labor and birth. Even if you don't have a history of hypoglycemia, anemia, or low blood pressure, taking an iron supplement during pregnancy is almost always a good idea.

Recommended route: I prefer a liquid, plant-based supplement. It's easier to assimilate into your system, goes great with some morning OJ, and is customizable to YOUR pregnancy needs, versus a pill that comes in finite doses.

Favorite Brand: Gaia Herbs
    Features: Sweet taste, easily taken with juice or favorite cold beverage, comes with medicine cup, plant-based for vegetarians, vegans, and those with allergies, more iron is absorbed due to food-like state, and dosage is customizable according to iron consumed from daily nutrition.



2. Collagen
Way back when, I wish someone had grabbed me by the shoulders and told me to take a collagen supplement. This amino acid has too many benefits to list, but here are my favorites... aside from it being nearly impossible to overdose on, collagen is high in protein (2 tablespoons can be up to 20g, depending on the brand!), improves the durability, resilience, and flexibility of those handy uterine muscle fibers, builds up both your and your baby's bones and teeth, improves brain power, and can even make you prettier!

Yeah, you read that right: not only can a healthy intake of collagen boost blood flow (aiding in that gorgeous, natural blush you've got going on there), but it can also decrease the severity of stretch marks, create softer, more supple skin, help your hair and nails to grow without breaking or splitting, AND even help your hoo-hah to recover better after birth. This can be especially helpful if you tore or needed an episiotomy during labor. Collagen is generally helpful in healing wounds of all kinds. However, taking collagen can also help to prevent tearing of the gooch to begin with, as it adds to the elasticity of your perineal muscle. Is there anything this supplement can't do??

Another upside is the many options available for taking collagen. Whether you are seeking a vegan or vegetarian supplement, liquid, powder, or pill, tasteless or flavored, collagen supplements come pretty much any way you want them! They are even available as an additive to your favorite protein shake or in the form of bone broth. I promise I will write a post later going into more detail about collagen, but for now, here's how I take mine:

Favorite Brand: Ancient Nutrition
    Features: Non-GMO, gluten/dairy/soy/nut/grain-free, developed by Dr. Axe, a health guru known for his line of nutritional products that are specifically oriented toward healing and maintaining gut health, contains collagen types I, II, and III, as well as other complimentary nutritives and without any unhealthy or undesirable preservatives or additives (like fructose).

3. DHA/Omega 3/6/9
Okay, so technically, these are two supplements, but they go hand-in-hand when you're talking about protecting your and baby's neural pathways. The internet is rife with information on DHA and Omega 3s, but they don't often explain the difference between the two are AND the fact there also Omega 6s and Omega 9s. Omega oils are know as EPAs and if you want to understand the difference between EPAs and DHA, you can explode you brain here.

Both can help protect your growing baby from developing neural tube deformities that can lead to things like ADD & ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and Autism. It can also help Mom as she begins to experience the dreaded "Pregnancy Brain" (fun post on that to come).

Favorite Brand: Raw Green Organics
  Features: Gluten/dairy/GMO/Fish-free, DHA and Omegas 3, 6, AND 9, vegan formula from flaxseed, thistle, and borage, for those with iodine/seafood/marine sensitivities. Also made by Raw Green Organics, a company with an entire line or organic supplements and health products. Bonus: you only need to take this once per day!
4. Vitamin D
In 2010 a study from the Medical University of South Carolina, 350 pregnant women participated in a double-blind to observe both the benefits and detriments of high dosages of vitamin D... 4000 IU, to be precise, when the previous recommendation sat at 400 IU, with a maximum dosage being 2000 IU. What happened? Women taking 4000 IU until delivery had less pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, infections, hypertension, hypovolemia, and premature babies, with no side effects!

Needless to say, we now know that vitamin D is pretty crucial. And being deficient in vitamin D? Well, it's about as bad as 4000 IU was good. Women with a vitamin D deficiency can experience low energy, higher rates of breast and skin cancer, babies with higher chance of severe jaundice, milk supply issues, depression, blood pressure issues... and the list goes on! So do your mood a favor and get some sunshine (oh, yeah, did I mention the most natural, organic form of vitamin D comes from the sun?) and the boost those effects with a nice supplement.

Note: Vitamin D is known to boost Calcium absorption, but this can inhibit Iron utilization. Be sure to take your Vitamin D, either without Calcium, or at a different time than your Iron!

Favorite Brand: (Besides sunshine...) Sun Drops
  Features: Organic, made with heart-healthy safflower oil, non-GMO, 1 drop is a full 1000 IU, with approximately 2000 drops per bottle, tasteless, so you can add this to a cup of yogurt, a smoothie, or any other beverage.

5. Magnesium
So we all know what the largest organ is in the human body... or do we? If you looked at your husband's package after that question, way to go, girl! At least we know how you got into this predicament, don't we? *wink, wink* Unfortunately, that's not it. It's your skin! Which makes getting this next nutrient pretty easy and effortless. There are tons of forms of magnesium, some with more side effects than others. Magnesium Citrate, for example, can have a laxative effect... pretty unpleasant when you're just trying to getting in your vitamins, right?

So before I spill off this awesome supplement, let's talk about the importance of magnesium. Like our four previous nutrients, this one, though last on our list, is certainly not least! Magnesium has multifaceted benefits, but more impressive than its uses, are the things we experience as a result magnesium deficiency. Migraines, heart issues, blood sugar issues, neurological issues (ADHD, brain fog, etc), constipation, muscle weakness, seizures, depression, just to name a few! In fact, chocolate, a treat high in its magnesium content, is one of the most common cravings. Its estimated that 80% of the western world is magnesium deficient!

So what happens when you enhance your day with a little mag boost? Well, for one, it improves blood circulation for less Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), limbs falling asleep, and muscle cramps. However, my favorite side effects of magnesium are it's ability to reduce you chance of developing eclampsia, improving your body's ability to heal wounds, and, get this... increase your pain threshold. So for those of you considering natural birth and maybe a little wary of contractions and the discomfort they cause, this is a great supplement to be using! But I digress...

So back to the original story (your largest organ: the skin), what kind of magnesium might you take? While many supplements can come in drops, gummies, oral liquids, etc., you can find magnesium in these forms and flakes and topical oil!

Favorite Brand: Magnum Solace
  Features: Simple, topical spray, sourced from the legendary Dead Sea, know for its multitude of health-enhancing applications and benefits, no added fillers or preservatives, is enhanced with the use of coconut oil.

Honorable Mentions
These didn't make it in our list, but are still wonderful supplements worth considering adding to your daily regimen!

• Chromium
• Phosphorus
• Vitamin K
• B-Complex

Dear Fellow Mama: I Know What's Wrong With Your Kid

Dear fellow mama with the screaming baby behind me in line:
  I see your flustered face and your desperation to just get out of the grocery store. I see your cautious glances, hoping that I'm not judging you and wondering why you ever left your house.

I see you...

Dear fellow mama with the toddler that just pushed my younger child down at the park:
  I see that you're trying to balance making sure I don't gossip about you on the facebook mommy groups and wondering how you can stop your little one from becoming that kid.

Dear fellow mama with the sensitive seven-year-old at homeschool group:
  I see you trying to toughen your child up, but then wondering if you're not pushing them too far. I see you trying to choose what is best for them without making them a social pariah.

Dear fellow mama with the teenager that acts like you never taught him any manners:
  I see you cringing at his behavior and afraid to say anything, lest he create a scene. I see you trying to let him express himself, but wondering if it's your fault that he thinks it's okay to objectify women and speak words you're not sure actually exist in the dictionary.

Dear fellow mama that wonders if her kids hate her because she really does expect too much, even though it seems like all the other moms can accomplish much more than her:
  I see you yo-yoing between being Martha Stewart from TV and Martha Stewart from prison. I see the invisible eggshells that you are trying to tread.

I know what's wrong with your kid... and better yet, I know what's wrong with you.

I don't want to fight with you and I don't want trouble for you. I want the same thing for you that I am seeking everyday... peace. I know that some babies gurgle, coo, and laugh in the store and put a smile on your face, but just because yours doesn't, that doesn't mean you are less of a parent or that your child is less of a good and precious child. I admire you for braving the outside world. It takes a lot of guts and I know that you still need to get dinner supplies, even if your little one's mood isn't ideal.

Babies scream. Toddlers hit. Bigger kids can be selfish. Teenagers suck. And you, Mom? You will never be enough. That's okay. I'm serious when I say that no one is perfect. Truly. After a pretty shitty day (and those have been pretty frequent lately) I thought about how I could see that "perfect" place, but just could never seem to achieve it, no matter how hard I tried. I would think of the reasons for why I kept messing up and who was to blame. After awhile, I had found a problem with everyone and everything, as I continuously assume everyone else is doing, and found myself to be the simple victim of broken systems and a flawed society.

My kids react to me...

Why can't everyone just be kind and considerate of those who are struggling? Why can't they just try to stop and contemplate that I'm going through something, too? 

And then God hit me over the head with a sledgehammer. Why can't you contemplate the struggles of others, too? What if the whole world did that? I groaned with frustration. I was struggling. I didn't want to give... I needed to receive. I was burned out and needed something, anything, to bring me back up. I had fallen. It wasn't my lowest point, but I was down and my kids knew it, too. They reacted to that. They could feel the annoyance and frustration surrounding me. Suddenly I was the mom with a screaming child in the middle of the vitamin aisle, knocking over bottles and boxes in his rage. People left that aisle. They huffed as they passed by to see if he was still screaming.

But here's what's wrong with you and your child: ME and others like me.

As I prayed for the moment to end, I was surprised by a gentle hand on my shoulder. An older woman had knelt down beside me and cooed at my son, asking him if she could pick him up, to which he screamed more. She didn't storm away. She simply rubbed my back and said "you're doing good, mama." I could have cried. She saw me. I see you, too, fellow mama, but I'm sorry that I haven't told you that. Because despite my greatest intentions or silent understanding, you still struggle alone and we aren't made to be islands.

So my dearest fellow mama: I am here and if you are struggling, I will struggle with you. I hope that in some small way I can take the load off you or cancel out a little bit of your stress. It may not have any significant impact, but I can only answer for how I act. I refuse to be a part of the problem through inaction. I want my children to be kind and compassionate people, working to make the world a better, more selfless place, but I MUST lead by example.

So fellow mama: I see you. And from now on, you are not alone.

I will struggle with you...

I Let My Child Cry It Out... And It's Not What You Think.

To start, I have always prided myself on my attachment parenting, my attempts to always become a gentler parent. I love loving my children, bringing them happiness, and being the cause of their laughter, but I am sick of being told that I am spoiling my child, teaching them that they can manipulate me, or am raising them to be overly-dependent brats. So to all of you "tough love" parents: today I let my 13 month old cry it out. Now, don't get all excited and think I'm defecting over to the dark side or something. I just reached my limit. With my first son, I had a dreamy parenthood until about 3 and a half years. My one year old, however, has been slightly less than a dream as of late.

I've said to others: I don't know if it's illness, teething, or a growth spurt, but the past few weeks have been tantrum after tantrum with screaming, bawling, and complete meltdowns at the slightest provocation. Now, I have a business of my own and am a single parent, so there came a dilemma: do I choose work or child?

I chose child. I always do.

But I knew something had to go differently if we were going to survive. So I shut my computer, set it aside, turned off my phone, and laid my screaming, crying, writhing child in front of me. Every stroke of my hand against his back, head, cheek, or arm only served to upset him more. So I set him down. I did not touch him.

But I did not leave.

He needed me. For whatever reason he couldn't reach me and I definitely could not reach him, but my child was struggling, so I sat there with him and watched him struggle. It was hard. His face was red and tear-soaked. His hair was matted to his wet forehead. His back arched as he continued to struggle. For a minute I thought about leaving. But why? I realized I was frustrated. I was frustrated that I couldn't fix it. I was frustrated that I couldn't take away his struggle. But I continued to sit there. I wondered if he even knew I was there next to him.

And then it happened. He opened his eyes and looked for me. Sobs still burst from his chest, but he was looking at me. I offered my hand. He took it and placed it on his chest. I left it there. He continued to sob. Never had I been so grateful to be with my baby. He knew I only had so much to offer. Finally, he turned over and placed his hands and face in my lap as his sobs whittled down to shudders. I rubbed his back.

Slowly, he crept his knees up more. In one movement, he put his arms around my neck and held on. I held him and whispered "Cry it out, little one. It's okay. You're safe with Mommy."

He fell asleep like that. I called my older son in and we did his math in bed while his brother slept in my arms. When he woke up an hour later, he looked for me and I was still there. I had a seminar to teach in two hours and I wasn't prepared, but I had passed a milestone with my son.

I may have him cry it out again the next time he has a struggle I can't fix, but I think we're both okay with that. However, it crossed my mind tonight that I almost left. When he had opened his eyes, how would he have felt? Would he have been scared? Would he have cuddled the pillows instead of me? Would he be angry that I left him? Because although I would never purposefully harm my child in any way, experience is had through perception and no amount of pure intent would have been able to repair that perception.

If I am Mom- if I am indeed someone with whom he can trust his emotions, struggles, and anguish- I must create an environment where this is his perception, as well as mine. If I am to do that, I must earn his trust because, as the parent, I am responsible for our environment. Parents, learn well from me... we can't change our child's perceptions. And we shouldn't. Our children should have a home base. A constant in an ever-changing world. All we can do is be there to prove that our love is the one constant in life that they don't have to earn.