Hard Time Choking Down Your Prenatal Vitamins? Drink ‘Em!

One of the first things women do when they start thinking about getting pregnant is buy prenatal vitamins. Whether they’re over the counter or a prescription your doctor writes for you, one thing is certain: the pills are huge.

No other pill I’ve ever taken has been as large as the dreaded prenatal vitamin. And if you have a hard time taking pills or have ever had a prenatal get lodged in your throat, you’ve probably found yourself wondering if there is an easier way to get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals. And now there is another way!

I recently tried out PREMAMA essentials, which is a prenatal and postnatal multivitamin drink mix made to replace the horse pill. It contains all of those key nutrients you want to get, like folate, iron, vitamin C and lots more, all of which are recommended for fetal and infant health and development. The iron, it should be noted, is a non-constipating Ferrochel, a patented blend of iron that has been coupled with amino acids for increased tolerance and better absorption. All of that is a science-y way to say that unlike traditional vitamins, it shouldn’t cause nausea or constipation. And any expecting mom wants to decrease the nausea and constipation—am I right or am I right?

Made to be taken once a day, the taste-free powder can be mixed with any non-carbonated cold beverage, like juice, water or milk, or even soft foods. So, how was it? Well, although it is supposed to be taste-free, I could definitely taste it in beverages. There was just an ever so slight hint of taste no matter what I mixed it with, be it Kool-Aid (yes, I tried it) or juice. It wasn’t necessarily bad, and my husband barely noticed a difference, but I always tasted iron. I’ll probably throw it in a smoothie from here on out, which is one thing I haven’t tried yet!

I’m lucky that I’ve never had a problem choking down my horse pills, but this is a great option to have because I know there are plenty of women who have a hard time getting their pills down the gullet. They are a little pricey, at $30 for 30 doses, but you can find some deals out there, and they are vegetarian and free of common allergens like gluten, eggs, fish, nuts, shellfish, sulfites and wheat.

What about you? Do you hate horse pills? Would you rather drink your prenatals? —Erin