Provident Mom

There seems to be a great debate out there over prenatal vitamins. Which are better? Prescription or Over the Counter? After some serious investigation, I’ve come to the conclusion that they’re pretty much the same, but you’ve got to read the labels to make sure. If their vitamin content is the same, look at your finances. Can you get a better deal through your insurance (prescription) or over the counter (especially at Wal-Mart).

I picked up OneSource prenatal vitamins at Wal-Mart. They were less than $5 for 72 servings (2 pills a day), which will last me more than two months. On the other hand, my doctor gave me a prescription for Duet DHA prenatal vitamins. I paid about $44 for a 30-day supply. The marketing department for the Duet vitamins is clearly more sophisticated than the marketing department for OneSource. The Duet vitamins are downright cute with little hearts printed on the pills. They even have a subtle sweet taste to them, whereas the OneSource vitamins are plain Jane pills in a plain Jane bottle.

But I checked the vitamin content and they’re virtually the same. The only real difference is that the Duet vitamins have omega-3 fatty acids and the OneSource vitamins don’t. For a $39 difference, however, I think I can go buy a separate omega-3 fatty acids vitamin and still come out way ahead. So that’s what I’m going to do.

I know that many women feel that they have to do exactly what their doctor says to ensure a healthy baby. But I’ve been around the block enough to know that I always know my body better than the doctor (or even the midwife) does, and I’m smart enough to use some discretion. It doesn’t matter which vitamin has a better marketing department (or drug reps who buy lunches for the doctors). Using discretion and judgment now will help me be a better mom always.