When you find out you’re pregnant, or when you’re trying to conceive, one of the first questions that often comes up is whether you should change your supplement routine. If you’ve already been taking a daily multivitamin or fish oil, you may wonder if you should continue those alongside a prenatal formula—or replace them entirely.
The short answer: during pregnancy, it’s best to switch to a prenatal multivitamin and a prenatal DHA rather than stacking them with your regular supplements. But beyond simply switching products, it’s also important to choose high-quality, clean supplements that support both maternal health and baby’s development.
Let’s explore why.
Do You Continue Your Daily Multivitamin with a Prenatal?
Once you begin taking a prenatal multivitamin, you generally do not need to continue your regular daily multivitamin. Prenatal formulas are specifically designed to meet the unique nutritional needs of pregnancy and typically contain different nutrient levels than a standard multivitamin.
A well-formulated prenatal—such as True Grace Prenatal Multivitamin—is designed to provide nutrients that become especially important during pregnancy, including:
- Folate to support neural tube development*
- Iron to support increased blood volume and oxygen transport*
- Choline for fetal brain development*
- Iodine to support thyroid and neurological development*
- Vitamin D for immune and bone health*
Adequate folate intake before and during early pregnancy has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of neural tube defects.¹ Iron needs also increase substantially during pregnancy to support expanded maternal blood volume and fetal growth.²
Because prenatal formulas are carefully balanced to provide these nutrients at appropriate levels, continuing a standard multivitamin alongside a prenatal could result in excessive intake of certain vitamins or minerals, which is why healthcare professionals typically recommend switching completely to a prenatal formula.³
Why the Quality of Your Prenatal Matters
During pregnancy, nutrient absorption and tolerance can become more challenging. Many women experience nausea, digestive sensitivity, or reduced appetite—especially in the first trimester.
One factor that can make a meaningful difference is how the nutrients are delivered.
Prenatals made with fermented vitamins, like those used in True Grace Prenatal Multivitamin, are produced using beneficial microorganisms that help create a food-based glycoprotein matrix around the nutrients. This fermentation process can offer several advantages:
1. Improved Digestibility
Fermented nutrients are often easier on the digestive system because the fermentation process partially breaks down the nutrient compounds, making them gentler to absorb. This can be particularly helpful for pregnant women who are sensitive to standard vitamin forms.⁴
2. Enhanced Bioavailability
Fermentation may improve how efficiently the body absorbs and utilizes vitamins and minerals by delivering them in a form that more closely resembles nutrients found in whole foods.⁵
3. Reduced Nausea
Many women report that fermented or food-based vitamins are less likely to cause nausea, which is especially important during pregnancy when morning sickness can make supplement routines difficult to maintain.
When choosing a prenatal, look for formulas that emphasize:
- Whole-food or fermented nutrients
- Clean, transparent ingredient sourcing
- Appropriate doses for pregnancy
- Third-party testing for purity and quality
Should You Take DHA with Your Prenatal?
Yes—most experts recommend taking DHA alongside your prenatal vitamin during pregnancy.
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an omega-3 fatty acid that plays a critical role in the development of the baby’s:
- Brain*
- Eyes*
- Nervous system*
During pregnancy, DHA accumulates rapidly in the fetal brain and retina, particularly during the third trimester.⁶ Maternal DHA intake has been associated with improved visual and cognitive outcomes in infants and may support healthy gestational length.⁷
Because omega-3 oils are difficult to incorporate into vitamin capsules or tablets, many prenatal multivitamins do not include DHA. For this reason, DHA is often provided as a separate supplement, such as True Grace Prenatal DHA.
Why a Clean Fish Oil Is Especially Important During Pregnancy
Not all fish oil supplements are created equal. Because omega-3s are sourced from marine fish, they can potentially contain environmental contaminants that can accumulate in marine environments and may pose risks during pregnancy if not properly removed.⁸
For this reason, choosing a high-quality, purified fish oil is especially important when you’re expecting. A prenatal DHA product like True Grace Prenatal DHA is designed with pregnancy safety in mind and should prioritize:
1. Purity and Contaminant Testing
Look for fish oil that is molecularly distilled or purified and tested for heavy metals and environmental toxins.
2. Sustainable Sourcing
Fish sourced from well-managed fisheries helps ensure both environmental sustainability and cleaner marine environments.
3. DHA-Focused Formulation
While standard fish oils often contain higher levels of EPA, prenatal omega-3 supplements prioritize DHA, the fatty acid most strongly linked to fetal brain and eye development.*
4. Freshness and Stability
High-quality fish oil should be protected from oxidation, which can degrade omega-3 fats and create unpleasant taste or smell.
Should You Continue Your Regular Fish Oil?
If you begin taking a prenatal DHA supplement, you typically do not need to continue your regular fish oil.
Prenatal DHA formulas are designed to provide appropriate DHA levels for pregnancy, whereas standard fish oil supplements are formulated for general wellness and may not provide the optimal DHA balance.
Switching to a prenatal DHA helps simplify your routine while ensuring you're supporting your baby's development with the most relevant omega-3 fatty acid.
A Simple Pregnancy Supplement Routine
During pregnancy, a streamlined supplement routine can look like this:
- Prenatal multivitamin to provide essential vitamins and minerals
- Prenatal DHA to support fetal brain and eye development
For example, combining True Grace Prenatal Multivitamin with True Grace Prenatal DHA provides comprehensive nutritional support designed specifically for this stage of life.
The Bottom Line
Pregnancy is not just about adding supplements—it’s about choosing the right ones.
Instead of stacking products:
- Switch from your regular multivitamin to a prenatal multivitamin
- Replace standard fish oil with a prenatal DHA
- Choose clean, high-quality formulas designed specifically for pregnancy
Focusing on purity, bioavailability, and targeted nutrition helps ensure you’re supporting both your own health and your baby’s development during this important time.
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Folic Acid and Prevention of Neural Tube Defects.
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Iron Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Nutrition During Pregnancy.
- Marco, M. L., et al. (2017). Health benefits of fermented foods. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 44, 94–102.
- Parodi, P. W. (2007). Bioactive components in fermented foods. Food Research International, 40(10), 1217–1223.
- Innis, S. M. (2007). Dietary omega-3 fatty acids and the developing brain. Brain Research, 1237, 35–43.
- Middleton, P., et al. (2018). Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
- World Health Organization. Evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants in fish oils.
