Why Quality Supplementation Matters
In a perfect world, we’d get all the nutrients we need from food alone. But the reality, especially when you’re supporting fertility, growing a baby, or healing postpartum, is that extra nourishment is often essential. Supplements can help fill in the gaps, ensuring your body has the support it needs to thrive through each phase.
When Should You Start a Prenatal?
If you’re thinking about trying to conceive, it’s ideal to start a prenatal 3–6 months before pregnancy. This gives your body time to build nutrient reserves, especially for key nutrients like folate, iron, choline, and omega-3s, which are crucial in the very early weeks of pregnancy (often before you even know you’re pregnant). Starting early helps set the foundation for both your health and your baby’s development.
If you’re already pregnant, it’s never too late to start. A high-quality prenatal can help fill in the gaps and support both you and your growing baby throughout pregnancy.
And just as important, don’t stop once baby arrives! Similar to pregnancy, the postpartum period is nutritionally expensive. In fact, research shows that nutrient needs can remain as high (or even higher!) postpartum compared to pregnancy. Your body is healing, rebalancing hormones, and (if breastfeeding) producing nutrient-rich milk, which requires significant amounts of key vitamins and minerals. Continuing your prenatal through postpartum, and until you wean from breastfeeding, supports your recovery, energy, mood, and long-term wellness.
Why Quality Matters
Not all supplements are created equal. In the U.S., supplements aren’t tightly regulated by the FDA, meaning companies don’t have to prove their product’s safety, effectiveness, or even that what’s on the label matches what’s inside. That’s why choosing trustworthy brands is so important, especially when you’re nourishing your fertility, pregnancy, or postpartum recovery.
Here’s what to look for in a high-quality supplement:
✔️ Third-party testing to verify purity, potency, and safety so you can trust that what’s on the label is truly what you’re getting
✔️ Active forms of nutrients (for example, methylfolate vs. folic acid, or magnesium glycinate vs. oxide)
✔️ No unnecessary fillers, artificial colors, or additives that don’t benefit your body (and can sometimes interfere with absorption or trigger sensitivities
✔️ Clear dosing that matches your needs (too high or too low can both be problematic)
It’s also about bioavailability: nutrients need to be in a form your body can actually use. For example, certain forms of iron or B vitamins are gentler and more effective, while others can cause side effects or be poorly absorbed.
When you invest in quality, you're investing in effective support that helps your body do what it’s beautifully designed to do
Red Flags to Watch For
Brands that don’t share testing or sourcing info
“Proprietary blends” that hide ingredient amounts
Overly cheap supplements (if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!)
Outdated formulas that rely on less effective nutrient forms
One-a-day vitamins—they often can’t fit meaningful doses of key nutrients in a single pill, leaving you under-supported
Personalized Support Matters
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options out there. And what’s right for one person isn’t always right for another. Your unique needs, medical history, and even budget all matter when choosing the best approach for you.
Every client session I offer includes personalized supplement guidance, with thoughtful adjustments along the way to keep your plan aligned with your evolving needs.
If you’re not currently a client but want expert guidance on proper supplementation—whether you’re preparing to conceive, pregnant, or in the postpartum season—my Supplement Express Sessions are here to help. These 30-minute consultations are designed to build a personalized supplement regimen for your specific season, using evidence-based recommendations you can trust.
Recommendations and advice provided during consultations for general health and/or specific concerns are considered nutrition support and not intended for the purpose of providing medical nutrition therapy. These services are not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, prevent, cure, or heal any condition or disease.