prenatal vitamins
Perelel Conception Support Pack: Everything You Need to Know
Prenatal Vitamins are a must for anyone TTC, pregnant, postpartum, or lactating. Taking a high-quality multivitamin during the preconception phase can support pregnancy outcomes by improving egg quality and blood folate levels. Enter Perelel Conception Support Pack, a pack of vitamins designed specifically for the preconception phase. But is it worth the hype? Here’s my honest review of the Perelel Conception Support Pack.
*This article should not be construed as medical advice, and cannot replace the guidance of your qualified health professional. Disclosure: I’m a Perelel Pack ambassador, and may earn a small commission if you purchase using my links and codes. All opinions expressed are my own, and this post was not sponsored.*
Why Prenatal Supplements Matter for TTC
Supplements can fill in the gaps that our modern diets leave in our nutrition. These nutrient gaps become more critical when planning or supporting a pregnancy. One of my favorite books on this topic, It Starts with the Egg, underscores this point. The main reasons to take a prenatal vitamin before even trying to conceive are to:
- Build up your blood folate levels. Folate helps prevent neural tube defects, and the critical window for this is in early pregnancy. It could take months to build up your stores high enough, which is why it’s good to start early.
- Support your cycle and egg quality by replenishing nutrients. Research shows that taking a multivitamin reduces the chances of infertility due to ovulation issues. B6, B12, zinc, and selenium have all been studied for their beneficial impacts on egg quality and fertility.
- Address nutrient deficiencies prior to pregnancy. Pregnancy demands a lot of the body. Going in with some “reserve” can help you have a smoother ride, possibly with less symptoms.
Perelel Conception Support Pack
What’s Included in Perelel Conception Support Pack
The Perelel Conception Support Pack has 3 capsules and 1 softgel. This combination was formulated by a panel of top OB/GYNs, nutritionists, reproductive endocrinologists, and naturopathic doctors. The ingredients are targeted for this specific stage of preconception.
Perelel Core Prenatal Multi
These 2 capsules are your core prenatal multivitamin. They contain folate, the full spectrum of B vitamins, iron, choline, and other nutrients.
Folate & CoQ10
The third capsule is a blend of extra folate plus CoQ10. Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10 for short, is an antioxidant that supports egg health and energy, as well as heart health. It’s made naturally by the body and found in just about every cell in the body.
Folate supports baby’s neural tube development, and it’s important to raise your red blood cell folate levels before you get pregnant. This is because the neural tube closes very early in pregnancy, and it could take a few months to reach optimal blood folate levels.
Omega-3 Fish Oil
Omega-3 fish oil contains numerous benefits, including reducing inflammation, preventing preterm birth, and supporting baby’s brain development. Most prenatal vitamins don’t contain Omega-3s at all, so you need to add them separately. Having a separate soft gel already included in the Perelel Conception Support Pack is a major bonus that makes things easier for you. Plus, it’s better to have Omega-3s in their own soft gel rather than combined in your prenatal multi capsule: this may help the formula from going rancid.
My Personal Experience with Perelel Conception Support Pack
Personally, I really love this prenatal vitamin! For me, Perelel Conception Support Pack is the perfect mix of high folate, full-spectrum B vitamins in bioavailable forms, while not having too much B12 which gives me insomnia if methylcobalamin is the form used.
I did end up adding onto this prenatal pack with some of my own supplement choices. I wanted extra CoQ10, Omega-3 fish oil, and selenium for thyroid support.
The Perelel Conception Support Pack is easy to take; I didn’t get any fishy burps or vitamin nausea. The packaging also looked cute sitting on my desk, which is where I keep my daily supplement stack. The packs were easy to stash in my toiletry bag for a trip to Hawaii this summer, too.
The Perelel Conception Support Pack has been my go-to prenatal vitamin for months before even TTC. I really like how Perelel offers different packs by stage, making it easy to get the right nutrients for each specific trimester, where needs vary! It contains much more supportive levels of nutrients in better, bioavailable forms than your average drugstore prenatal vitamin or gummy prenatal vitamin. Yet, it isn’t super high in B12 or Biotin like some other high-end prenatals, which makes it easier for me to tolerate. Overall, it’s been my personal favorite, although I do add some other nutrients to it as well.
If you want to try it, my link and code MERRITT15 gets you 15% off Perelel products.
Other Benefits of Choosing Perelel
Third Party Testing for Supplement Purity
Third party testing is critical when choosing a prenatal supplement. Supplements are not FDA-regulated. This means that ingredients labels are often inaccurate, and the products often contain higher levels of heavy metals and other contaminants. Perelel Conception Support Pack is Clean Label Project certified, meaning they’ve been third party tested for label accuracy and product purity from contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticides. Clean Label Project is an excellent, free resource for checking certain product labels! Check them out.
Convenient Packaging Makes it Easy to Stick to Your Routine
Perelel Conception Support Pack is a very comprehensive prenatal vitamin system that provides the major nutrients you need while planning a pregnancy, all in one easy pack. The convenience of separately-portioned packs is easy for travel, work, on-the-go, and ultimately makes it easier for busy people to stick to a new supplement routine. Make your order a subscription so reordering is seamless and you never run out!
Why Perelel Conception Support Pack Might Not Be For You
If You Have a Strict Budget
At $45/month with a subscription, this is a pricy option. But you’re getting very high quality for the price: Clean Label Certified vitamins plus extras like the CoQ10 and Omega-3 that other prenatal vitamins do not include.
If You’re Deficient in B12
Some people will need more B12 than what’s in this formula. To check your B12 status, get a blood test for Methylmalonic Acid. It will show whether your body is functionally deficient in B12. For me personally, this B12 amount is perfect; higher amounts give me headaches and insomnia.
If You Want More Omega-3 DHA
The DHA Omega-3 provided by the included soft gel is 250mg. Studies show that 500mg is a more supportive dose. You may want to take additional Omega-3 fish oil, or aim to eat fatty fish like salmon 2-3x weekly. Other populations such as those with autoimmune issues or trouble conceiving may benefit from higher doses.
If You Want More CoQ10 for Egg Quality
The CoQ10 included in the Conception Support Pack is 50mg of ubiquinone. Some studies show that higher amounts could be beneficial for egg quality, especially for certain populations. If this is you, you might want to add on extra CoQ10.
If You Prefer Iron Separately
The Perelel Conception Support Pack includes 16mg of iron in the form ferrous bisglycinate chelate. This is a great form–it’s typically better absorbed with less digestive issues. Some people may need more iron than this, but it depends on your bloodwork. Check your ferritin levels to see if you need more iron.
Also, some people find that their iron absorbs better and helps raise ferritin better when taken separately from their other vitamins. If you are trying to raise your ferritin, you may want a prenatal vitamin without iron at all, so that you can add on your preferred dose and form separately.
Still Not Sure Perelel Conception Support Pack is Right for You?
For other brands to consider, check out my article: My Honest Prenatal Vitamins Review: The Best Brands.
Whether you’re TTC, pregnant, postpartum, or just looking for supportive supplements, I hope you found this prenatal vitamins review helpful. Don’t forget to use my links and codes for special discounts!
Dive in!
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links on this page are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I would never recommend anything I wouldn’t personally use, and the income goes to keeping this site updated and free for everyone!
Choline: An Important Prenatal Nutrient
Before, during, and after pregnancy are very demanding times on the body. After all, you’re growing and sustaining another human! It’s nearly impossible to get all your nutrients from diet alone. You can get a significant boost from a high-quality prenatal vitamin, but it’s likely you’ll need to add to it! Learn why choline during pregnancy is so critical, why you might want to supplement, and why Needed Choline+ is a great choice.
*This article should not be construed as medical advice, and cannot replace the guidance of your qualified health professional.*
Choline is Essential for Baby’s Brain
Getting enough choline during pregnancy supports baby’s brain development and supplementing can produce lasting benefits for children’s brain function and memory.
Why Supplement with Choline During Pregnancy
During early pregnancy, 450mg is recommended daily, and that goes up to 550mg daily in the second and third trimesters.
It Can Be Difficult to Get Choline from Diet Alone
Three eggs yolks provide about 450mg of choline, making eggs a great dietary source! However, some people don’t tolerate eggs due to nausea or other dietary restrictions. Choline can be found in chicken, fish, beef, broccoli, and other foods. If trying to get choline from diet alone and not eating eggs, you may need to keep a close eye on the choline content of your foods to ensure you’re getting enough.
Your Prenatal Probably Doesn’t Have Enough Choline
Most prenatal vitamins contain very low levels of choline, much less than needed. So if you aren’t eating eggs regularly, and your prenatal has low choline, you’l likely need to add a supplement to hit your daily target. You can easily add more choline during pregnancy to your Prenatal Vitamin subscription with Needed Choline.
Why I Recommend Needed Choline+
Needed Choline+ is Optimal for Pregnancy
Needed Choline+ provides 500mg of Choline Chloride per capsule. This is a bioavailable and clinically studied form of Choline. Choline+ is also non-GMO, gluten-free, talc-free, and made without the 9 major allergens and synthetic colors. You can easily add more choline to your Prenatal Vitamin subscription with Needed Choline.
Third Party Testing for Supplement Purity
Supplements are not FDA-regulated. This means that ingredients labels are often inaccurate, and the products often contain higher levels of heavy metals and other contaminants. Needed is Clean Label Project certified, meaning they’ve been third party tested for label accuracy and product purity from contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticides. Clean Label Project is an excellent, free resource for checking certain product labels! Check them out.
More Top Pregnancy Nutrients
Choline during pregnancy supports baby’s brain development. Most prenatal vitamins contain very low levels of choline, much less than needed during pregnancy. Unless you’re eating eggs every day, you likely need to add a choline supplement to hit your goals. You can easily add more choline to your Prenatal Vitamin subscription with Needed Choline.
To try Needed, code: MERRITT gets you up to 40% off pre-bundled plans, and 25%+ off your first subscription order!
Recommended Reading for Pregnancy Supplements
I highly recommend reading Rebecca Fett’s books It Starts with the Egg, It Starts with the Bump, and Brain Health from Birth, for more details on the science of egg quality and a healthy pregnancy. These books helped inform my prenatal vitamins review, and contain a wealth of information that you probably aren’t getting from your OB.
For more, check out my article My Honest Prenatal Vitamins Review: The Best Brands., and Trimester-Specific Nutrients to Add to Your Prenatal Vitamin Now.
Dive in!
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links on this page are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I would never recommend anything I wouldn’t personally use, and the income goes to keeping this site updated and free for everyone!
Sperm Quality Supplements for TTC: Add these 6 to Your Multi
TTC is a team effort. To further improve sperm quality, consider adding these sperm quality supplements to your multivitamin. You don’t need to take all 6, but a combination of a few is likely better than just one. Read on for which nutrients are needed, why they’re important, plus why I recommend Needed Sperm Support+.
Why Men Need to Take Prenatal Vitamins When TTC
Prenatal Vitamins are a must for anyone TTC, pregnant, postpartum, or lactating. But did you know that men need to take prenatal vitamins when TTC, too? Taking a high-quality multivitamin can support pregnancy outcomes by improving sperm quality. Read on for which nutrients are needed and why they’re important, plus why Needed Men’s Multi is my top pick.
You Might Need to Add These 3 Prenatal Nutrients
Did you know that 95% of moms are nutrient deficient? Before, during, and after pregnancy are very demanding times on the body. After all, you’re growing and sustaining another human! Unfortunately, the combination of modern diet and depleted soil makes it nearly impossible to get all your nutrients from diet alone. You can get a significant boost from a high-quality prenatal vitamin, but it’s likely you’ll need to add to it! These are the three key nutrients you may need to add to your prenatal vitamin.
*This article should not be construed as medical advice, and cannot replace the guidance of your qualified health professional.*
Key Prenatal Nutrients to Add to Your Vitamin
If you read my post, 8 Nutrients to Look for in a Prenatal Vitamin, you’re already off to a solid start! These nutrients are likely already in your prenatal vitamin. However, they may be low dosage for your needs, and you may need to supplement! Here’s what to look for, how to know when to add them, and why they’re important.
Sometimes a Prenatal Vitamin Isn’t Enough
Vitamin D Needs Vary from Person to Person
Vitamin D is a critical nutrient to support your immune system, and studies show that maintaining Vitamin D levels in pregnancy can reduce the risk of preterm birth. The optimal blood level for Vitamin D is at least 40ng/mL. You may have seen 20ng/mL as the cutoff for “normal,” but this is meant to prevent rickets, a severe bone disease, not reach optimal health! To reach 40ng/mL, most people need to supplement with at least 4000IU per day, and prenatal vitamins typically fall short. Get your blood level tested before supplementing, and follow up to see your levels rise. You don’t want to take too much Vitamin D3, either. An oil-based form of Vitamin D3 seems to work best, because Vitamin D3 is fat soluble. My favorite is MaryRuth Organics Megadose Vitamin D3 Liquid Drops.
Choline Supports Baby’s Brain Development
Choline supports baby’s brain development. Most prenatal vitamins contain very low levels of choline, much less than mamas need. Unless you’re eating eggs every day, you likely need to add a choline supplement to hit 350mg daily. You can easily add more choline to your Prenatal Vitamin subscription with Needed Choline.
Iron is Important but Causes GI Discomfort in Some
Iron is needed for a healthy supply of red blood cells, which are needed to carry oxygen to the placenta! But, iron supplements can cause gastrointestinal discomfort. To tailor your dose, opt for a prenatal vitamin without iron, then add it in separately as ferrous bisglycinate, which is easier on the stomach. Needed Prenatal Iron makes it easy to increase your iron levels. Their product page even has a helpful dosage calculator based on your blood ferritin levels! For even better absorption, take your iron apart from meals and with vitamin C. Make sure to test your iron levels (including ferritin) during pregnancy. Too much or too little iron can cause fatigue and other unpleasant symptoms.
If you want to try any product from Needed, code: MERRITT gets you up to 40% off pre-bundled plans, and 25%+ off your first subscription order!
Other Considerations for Pregnancy Supplements
Other Prenatal Nutrients to Consider Pairing with Your Prenatal Vitamin
This is not an exhaustive list of all the nutrients important to pregnancy. In addition to what’s listed here, you may benefit from Omega-3 fish oil, additional calcium and magnesium, collagen, and a probiotic. Check out my other posts for a deeper dive!
Trimester-Specific Nutrients to Add to Your Prenatal Vitamin Now
8 Nutrients to Look for in a Prenatal Vitamin
Why Needed Prenatal Collagen Protein is Superior, My Review
Recommended Reading for Pregnancy Supplements
I highly recommend reading Rebecca Fett’s books It Starts with the Egg, It Starts with the Bump, and Brain Health from Birth, for more details on the science of egg quality and a healthy pregnancy. These books helped inform my prenatal vitamins review, and contain a wealth of information that you probably aren’t getting from your OB.
Third Party Testing for Supplement Purity
Supplements are not FDA-regulated. This means that ingredients labels are often inaccurate, and the products often contain higher levels of heavy metals and other contaminants. Each brand I recommend is Clean Label Project certified, meaning they’ve been third party tested for label accuracy and product purity from contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticides. Clean Label Project is an excellent, free resource for checking certain product labels! Check them out.
Prenatal Vitamins: Capsules, Gummies, and Powder
A philosophy I repeat a lot on my blog is that the best product in the world is useless if you won’t actually use it. When it comes to pregnancy nausea, some people tolerate gummies or powders better than pills. Folate is so critical for preventing certain birth defects, especially early in pregnancy, so it’s important to find a vitamin that you can tolerate. If you’re really struggling, seek out a nutritional counselor. Needed subscriptions include a free, one-time consultation with a nutritionist to get you started.
My Top Prenatal Vitamin Choices
Here are two of my favorite brands that provide the key nutrients needed in prenatal vitamins. For more, check out my article My Honest Prenatal Vitamins Review: The Best Brands.
Needed Prenatal Vitamins Contain Key Nutrients at Needed Dosages
Needed prenatal vitamins contain optimal forms of vitamins for better absorption, and their dosages are based on research of real pregnant women’s nutritional needs. Try the Starter Plan to bundle your Prenatal with an Omega-3, which is important for egg quality and preventing preterm birth, among other benefits! Read more about Omega-3s in my post, Trimester-Specific Nutrients to Add to Your Prenatal Vitamin Now.
Use this link and code: MERRITT for up to 40% off pre-bundled plans or 25%+ off your first subscription order!
Perelel Prenatal Vitamins Are a Well-Rounded Option
Perelel is an OB/GYN-founded supplement company that makes it easy to get comprehensive prenatal nutrition, with “Packs” tailored to the nutritional needs of each stage! The Conception Support Pack aims to help prepare the body for pregnancy, providing extra folate, COQ10, and Omega-3 fish oil. The 1st Trimester pack contains extra B6 to help keep nausea at bay, the 2nd Trimester pack contains extra calcium and magnesium, and the 3rd Trimester pack adds calcium, magnesium and a probiotic. What’s unique about these packs is that they are literally little packets containing multiple pills — no pill case needed!
Try Perelel Multivitamin Packs with my link and code: MERRITT15 for 15% off!
Whether you’re TTC, pregnant, postpartum, or just looking for supportive supplements, I hope you found this prenatal vitamins review helpful. Don’t forget to use my links and codes for special discounts!
To try Needed, code: MERRITT gets you up to 40% off pre-bundled plans, and 25%+ off your first subscription order!
Or try Perelel Multivitamin Packs with my link and code: MERRITT15 for 15% off!
Dive in to radically better nutrition!
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links on this page are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I would never recommend anything I wouldn’t personally use, and the income goes to keeping this site updated and free for everyone!
