Twin Mom Guide

Go Beyond the Bare Minimum- Choosing a Prenatal for Twin Pregnancy

Shelly Patularu, BScN, RN, IBCLC — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:19:13 +0000

Pregnant with twins and wondering what prenatal vitamin you should take? You aren’t alone!

First of all, a huge congratulations to you! Twins are such a blessing, and you are in the right place.

Carrying twins is extraordinary, powerful, and uniquely demanding. As a registered nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and twin mom, I see every day how much more the body is asked to do during a twin pregnancy, and how often nutritional needs are underestimated.

The reality is this: women are already undernourished during their most critical life stages, and twin pregnancy amplifies that challenge!

Choosing a prenatal vitamin can feel so overwhelming! There are so many options, and, unfortunately, most of the options are not adequate to support your body with a twin pregnancy.

If you’re pregnant with twins, your body is doing the work of growing two entire humans at once. That means there is a higher demand for calories, protein, iron, choline, calcium, magnesium, DHA, and several key micronutrients that support fetal growth, placental development, and maternal health. Unfortunately, many conventional prenatal vitamins fall short, especially for multiples!

This is why I recommend Needed Prenatal Multi to my clients as the best prenatal vitamin choice for twin pregnancy and postpartum.

Nutrient Depletion Is Real and Often Overlooked

Symptoms like occasional fatigue, brain fog, hair loss, and mood changes are often dismissed as “normal” in pregnancy. But clinically, these are frequently signs of nutrient depletion.

Data suggests that up to 95% of women experience nutritional depletion, even when taking a prenatal vitamin. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data shows that women who supplement are still commonly deficient in key nutrients, including vitamins D, A, B6, K, and E, along with choline, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc.

These nutrients are not optional. They support:

Healthy hormone production*
Blood volume expansion and healthy blood pressure*
Fetal brain and cognitive development*
Energy, mood, and metabolic function*

In a twin pregnancy where demands are significantly higher, addressing these gaps becomes even more critical.

Twin Pregnancy Means Higher Nutrient Demands

Research consistently shows that twin pregnancies increase the risk of:

Iron deficiency and anemia
Preterm birth
Low birth weight
Increased maternal fatigue and nutrient depletion

Your body needs more building blocks, not just “one-a-day” coverage. Twin moms often require higher intakes of protein, iron, folate, choline, iodine, and omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients directly impact fetal brain development, blood volume expansion, and maternal health.

Needed Prenatal Multi was formulated with these realities in mind.

Why Most Prenatals Don’t Meet the Needs of Twin Pregnancy

Most standard prenatal vitamins are formulated to meet bare minimum requirements based on outdated Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs). Many:

Use less bioavailable forms
Provide insufficient amounts
Fail to account for increased needs during preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum

In fact, leading prenatals often dose below even these outdated RDAs for many nutrients*. This approach may prevent overt deficiency, but it does not support repletion or optimal health, especially for women carrying twins.

Thoughtfully Dosed, Not Just the Bare Minimum

One of the biggest problems with standard prenatals is that they aim to meet minimum requirements, not optimal ones. Needed Prenatal Multi takes a different approach.

Needed Prenatal Multi is intentionally formulated, meaning the nutrients are provided in amounts that actually reflect what pregnant bodies need, especially those under increased demand.

Key highlights of Needed Prenatal Multi include:

Selenium for immune and thyroid function, which leading prenatals leave out*
Robust choline content, a nutrient critical for fetal brain development that most prenatals barely include or skip altogether*
Magnesium and calcium for muscle function, bone development, and sleep support*
Methylated B vitamins, which are easier to absorb and better tolerated

For twin moms, this matters. You’re not just looking to fight against deficieny, you’re supporting optimal growth for two babies while protecting your own maternal reserves.

Supporting Pregnancy and Postpartum

One thing I love about Needed is that they clearly understand the full perinatal continuum. Needed Prenatal Multi is designed not only to support pregnancy, but also to set moms up for:

Postpartum recovery
Nutrient transfer through lactation
Nutrient replenishment after birth

As an IBCLC who specializes in twins, I see firsthand how nutrient status impacts milk supply, energy, and mood postpartum. Choosing a high-quality prenatal during pregnancy and postpartum, especially with twins, can make a meaningful difference in your health for years to come.

A Prenatal You Can Feel Confident About

Twin pregnancy already comes with enough uncertainty. Your prenatal vitamin shouldn’t be one of them.

Needed Prenatal Multi is:

Evidence-informed
Practitioner-trusted
Thoughtfully formulated
Appropriate for higher-demand pregnancies like twins

How Needed Prenatal Multi Essentials Is Different

Needed Prenatal Multi is an optimally dosed prenatal recommended by over 15,000 practitioners. When compared to both outdated standards and other leading brands, the difference is substantial.

Needed Prenatal Multi provides 8x more nutrition than leading prenatals
It provides 5x more nutrition than outdated Recommended Dietary Allowances
Compared to other popular brands, Needed provides**:
- 7x more nutrition than Ritual
- 6x more than Perelel
- 6x more than Nature Made
- 6x more than One A Day
- 13x more than Olly prenatal gummies

Nutrients That Matter (Especially for Twins!)

When we look at individual nutrients critical for twin pregnancy, the differences are even more meaningful:

12x more choline than leading prenatals, supporting fetal brain development
2x more vitamin A
31x more vitamin B12
4x more vitamin D
20x more vitamin B6
3x more zinc

Additionally, many leading prenatals do not contain selenium or chromium at all. Needed Prenatal Multi Essentials provides:

3x the outdated RDA for selenium
4x the outdated RDA for chromium

For twin pregnancies where nutrient demands are higher across the board these differences are not just impressive, they’re clinically meaningful.

Supporting Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Lactation

As an IBCLC specializing in twins, I emphasize that nutrition during pregnancy sets the foundation for postpartum recovery and milk production. Twin moms are at increased risk for depletion after birth, and starting pregnancy with a more comprehensive, optimally formulated prenatal can support energy, mood, and lactation outcomes later on.

A Prenatal You Can Feel Confident Choosing

Twin pregnancy already comes with enough unknowns. Your prenatal vitamin shouldn’t be one of them.

If you’re looking for a prenatal that acknowledges real nutrient depletion, challenges outdated standards, and supports the increased demands of carrying twins, Needed Prenatal Multi is a choice you can feel confident in

This post is sponsored by Needed, a brand I genuinely recommend to my patients and use personally

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease

Based on Recommended Dietary Allowances, compared to leading prenatals as determined by IRI $ sales data, 09/2024-09/2025.

The post Go Beyond the Bare Minimum- Choosing a Prenatal for Twin Pregnancy appeared first on Twin Mom Guide.

How to Create a Business that Generates Passive Income

Shelly Patularu, BScN, RN, IBCLC — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 21:07:16 +0000

Passive income is one of the most sought-after ways to earn because it offers the freedom to generate revenue without constant, active work. Imagine building something once and seeing returns for years – that’s the dream of passive income! In this post, we’ll break down how to create a business that generates passive income, step by step.

Step 1: Understand What Passive Income Is (and Isn’t)

Define passive income: income that flows in with minimal ongoing effort after the initial setup.
Explain the myth: passive income isn’t “easy money.” It involves work upfront, careful planning, and strategic scaling.
Highlight benefits: increased financial freedom, flexibility, and the potential to pursue other interests.

Step 2: Choose the Right Passive Income Model for You

Digital Products: These could be e-books, courses, templates, or printables. Once created, they can be sold repeatedly without additional effort.
Affiliate Marketing: Partner with brands and promote products or services to earn a commission. Share how this can be effective, especially if you have a blog or social media presence.
Online Courses and Memberships: Share your expertise with a community that values continuous learning. Create a membership model for recurring income.
Content Creation (YouTube, Blogging, Podcasting): Ad revenue, sponsorships, and partnerships can offer income, especially if you build a loyal audience.
Real Estate Investments: If readers have capital, they could consider rental properties, crowdfunding real estate, or REITs (real estate investment trusts).

Step 3: Start with Market Research and Validation

Describe how understanding your target market and competition is crucial to developing a product that will sell.
Use surveys, social media polls, and online groups to gauge interest.
Offer tips on validating an idea with pre-orders or free samples before investing too much time or money.

Step 4: Create Quality, Scalable Products

Emphasize the importance of quality. Products should solve a real problem or add significant value to your audience’s life.
Share that digital products (such as online courses, e-books, or printable templates) are perfect for scaling because they don’t require inventory.
Include tips for creating in-demand products: using tools like Canva for design, easy-to-follow platforms like Teachable or Kajabi for courses, etc.

Step 5: Set Up Automated Sales Systems

Explain why automation is key to true passive income.
Discuss setting up a simple website with sales funnels using tools like ConvertKit or MailChimp to nurture leads.
Recommend creating an email sequence that educates new subscribers about your products, nurtures their interest, and leads them to purchase.

Step 6: Focus on Content Marketing

Discuss the importance of attracting organic traffic via SEO, social media, and blogging.
Suggest creating helpful content around your niche, building trust with your audience, and attracting new visitors passively.
Mention long-term strategies like evergreen blog posts, Pinterest pins, and SEO-optimized YouTube videos.

Step 7: Track, Optimize, and Scale

Encourage readers to analyze their sales data and tweak what isn’t working.
Suggest upselling and cross-selling related products to maximize each sale.
Inspire readers to diversify: once one product is successful, consider creating others to expand their income streams.

Building a passive income business can truly be life-changing, providing financial freedom and more time for what matters most. While it requires commitment and smart planning initially, once your system is in place, you can enjoy the rewards of your hard work without daily hustle. Start small, be consistent, and watch as your business grows into a steady source of passive income!

The post How to Create a Business that Generates Passive Income appeared first on Twin Mom Guide.

10 Common Mistakes New Entrepreneurs Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Shelly Patularu, BScN, RN, IBCLC — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 21:07:05 +0000

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