What I took before and during pregnancy
I get asked this a lot, so here's exactly what I did, and why.
Read the video transcript
What's in Select Balance's Prenatal Complete, and why does methylated matter? Hi, I'm Stephanie Grutz, board-certified family nurse practitioner. Our Select Balance Prenatal Complete uses methylated B12 and folate. These are the active forms so that your body can use them right away. That matters if you have MTHFR variant or your gut doesn't absorb well.
When I was pregnant, I took Prenatal Complete two capsules daily, our Select Balance Pregnancy Plus with choline, two caps daily, fish oil, and as needed, I would take iron. If you're in the preconception phase, I suggest doing Prenatal Complete, vitamin D3, and NAC for both partners, and that's where I'd start.
Always confirm with your own provider.
During pregnancy
- Prenatal Complete, 2 capsules daily. It uses methylated B12 and folate. These are the active forms, so your body can use them right away. That matters if you have an MTHFR variant or your gut doesn't absorb well.
- Pregnancy Plus with Choline, 2 capsules daily. Choline supports your baby's developing brain, and it supports your brain during pregnancy too. It's the same reason you're told to eat eggs when you're pregnant. I consider choline just as important as folate in pregnancy. Both matter. So I created a product with a meaningful amount of it (470 mg per serving), and I took it throughout my full pregnancy with my daughter. I would do it all over again.
- Fish oil, and iron as needed.
Read the video transcript
Why choline? And why did I put choline in the Select Balance Pregnancy Plus? Well, choline supports your baby's developing brain, and it supports your brain during pregnancy too. It's the same reason you're told to eat eggs when you're pregnant. I consider choline just as important as folate in pregnancy.
Both matter. So I created a product with a meaningful amount of it. Pregnancy Plus is something that I took throughout my full pregnancy with my daughter, and I would go back and do it all over again. Doing that with the Prenatal Complete is the best. Tap the Ask Steph to ask any questions that you have.
Before pregnancy
If you're in the preconception phase, I suggest Prenatal Complete, vitamin D3, and NAC for both partners. That's where I'd start. I recommend starting a prenatal years before you plan to conceive, not just once you're pregnant.
About NAC: I often suggest it for both partners when you're trying to conceive. For men, NAC supports sperm motility and strength.
Always confirm with your own provider. And for your own situation, tap Ask Steph, and my team and I will answer you directly. See everything in one place in our Fertility & Prenatal collection.
Stephanie Grutz, ARNP, FNP-C, is an integrative board-certified family nurse practitioner and the founder of Select Balance. This article is general education, not medical advice. Talk with your own provider about your situation.
