The Best Supplement If You Have A MTHFR Mutation During Pregnancy

A while ago, my brother told me about the 23 And Me test. I have always been curious about my genes and ancestry. So I decided to get the test and try it out and find out I had a MTHFR Mutation. Nowadays, with access to the tools to search for the best medical information, we have the world at our fingertips, even if we are not a doctor. Keep in mind that I am not encouraging anyone to bypass a doctor about certain things, such as self-diagnosing. However, we could all use the valuable resources available to us to become educated. This can help us feel confident that we are doing everything possible to make the best decision for our health. 

23 And Me Test

The process is actually pretty simple:

• You order it online
• You receive the kit
• Follow the instructions
• Send it back with your sample
• Wait for the results to come back

I don’t remember how long it took to get my results back, but I was definitely excited when I saw the email saying that they were ready. I created my account and BOOM—all my information displayed right there online.

Interesting right? Yes, but be aware that not everything you read will be happy news. As said in my bio, all my dad’s side of the family are doctors. They all worked in different fields, but I was always  curious about their work and and absorb as much as I could. Though I am not a doctor, I understand some of the basics much easier than others might because of my upbringing.

My Results

When I looked at my results, I discovered two very interesting things. The first was that I was a carrier of the fibrosis cystic gene. Secondly, I discovered I had the MTHFR mutation. I was surprised by these two pieces of information at the time, and I knew that I would have to take them into consideration once I decided to have kids.

Why? Well, in the first case, if you are a female who carries the fibrosis cystic gene, it could impact the health of your baby if your partner has the same mutation. Your doctor could always do a genetic test in the first weeks of pregnancy so you can act accordingly on this particular matter.

MTHFR Supplements

People do not often recommend or do an exam for the MTHFR mutation, so I would suggest using the 23 And Me test or another available option to verify if you do have this mutation. Why is this important to know? Because it boils down to choosing the right supplement for a healthy pregnancy.

In fact, having a MTHFR mutation means that your body cannot absorb Folic Acid correctly and other important B Vitamins. This means that you should look to buy supplements that have a natural form of Folic Acid, which is called Folate. 

Quatrefolic is considered one of the best forms available on the market. So, I would suggest researching a prenatal supplement that contains it.

My Recommendation

I have been using a prenatal since a couple of months before I decided to try for a baby. I have been using a specific product called Zahler Prenatal DHA, which I found too strong at the beginning (when not pregnant yet). In fact, I had headaches often and had to stop taking the two pills a day. Then I discovered that they introduced a Zahler mini version (with less concentrate dosage), so I decided to take that instead until I was 3 months in. After I became pregnant, I switched back to the original formula. My body demanded more nutrients with the growing baby.

Conclusion

There are many options that now are claiming to have Folate instead of Folic Acid; be sure of the source. At first, I tried the most organic option available, and I discovered that the form of Folate used wasn’t different from Folic Acid. Yes, we can eat as many (uncooked)  vegetables and fruits as possible to gain this nutrient, if you also have MTHFR, that still might not be enough, especially when pregnant.

With that being said, my last recommendation is to look for products that contain the least amount of lead in them. This all collectively will help you grow a healthy bundle of joy and be proud that you took the necessary precautions to establish a smooth pregnancy.